CVE-2005-0251 in BibORB
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in bibindex.php for BibORB 1.3.2, and possibly earlier versions, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and web script via the search parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0251 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the bibindex.php component of BibORB version 1.3.2 and potentially earlier releases. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of user input within the search parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary HTML and web scripts within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability operates by failing to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages, thereby allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that can be executed when other users view the affected content.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the bibindex.php script. When users submit search queries through the application's interface, the system processes these inputs without sufficient sanitization measures, particularly concerning special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This flaw falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which specifically addresses the injection of executable code into web applications. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects the search functionality, which is likely a frequently used feature, increasing the attack surface and potential exposure.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are significant for any organization utilizing BibORB 1.3.2 or earlier versions. Attackers could exploit this weakness to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface web pages, or execute malicious scripts that could compromise user accounts and sensitive data. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access to the system or direct network connections to the application server. Instead, they can simply craft malicious URLs containing the XSS payload and distribute them through various channels such as email, forums, or social media platforms. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited at scale with minimal technical expertise required from the attacker.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-0251 should prioritize immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by the vendor, as the vulnerability affects a specific version of BibORB that likely received security updates. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent user-supplied data from being interpreted as executable code. This includes implementing strict sanitization routines that remove or encode potentially dangerous characters such as angle brackets, quotes, and script tags. Additionally, the application should employ Content Security Policy headers to limit the sources from which scripts can be loaded, and implement proper HTTPOnly flags on session cookies to prevent client-side script access to sensitive authentication data. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in web applications. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript," indicating that attackers can leverage such vulnerabilities to execute malicious JavaScript code within user browsers, potentially leading to further compromise through techniques such as credential theft or browser-based attacks.