CVE-2005-0281 in Soldner Secret Wars
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the web interface in Soldner Secret Wars 30830 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a user message, which is not filtered or quoted when the administrator views the server logs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0281 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the web interface of Soldner Secret Wars 30830, a game server application. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting weaknesses in web applications. The flaw manifests when user-generated content is improperly handled within the server's logging mechanism, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the context of administrator sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the injection of malicious scripts or HTML code via user messages that are subsequently displayed in the administrator's server logs. The application fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before rendering it in the web interface, particularly when the administrator views the server logs. This lack of input validation creates a persistent XSS vector where attacker-controlled content can be executed in the browser of any administrator who accesses the logs, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with a means to compromise the administrative interface of the game server. When administrators view the server logs containing malicious payloads, their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially allowing attackers to perform actions with the privileges of the administrator account. This could enable unauthorized access to server configuration, user data manipulation, or even complete server compromise depending on the administrative privileges granted to the logged-in users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in multi-user environments where administrators regularly monitor server logs for operational issues or security events.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's web interface. The most effective approach involves proper escaping of user-generated content before it is rendered in any web context, particularly when displaying data in administrative logs or user interfaces. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while regular input validation and sanitization routines should be enforced at multiple layers of the application. The solution aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script injection, as it prevents attackers from establishing persistent script execution channels through log viewing interfaces. Organizations should also implement regular security assessments and input validation testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their web applications, as this type of flaw commonly occurs in legacy systems that lack modern security controls and input sanitization practices.