CVE-2005-0305 in Siteman
Summary
by MITRE
CRLF injection vulnerability in users.php in Siteman 1.1.10 and earlier allows remote attackers to add arbitrary users and gain privileges via the line parameter in a docreate operation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2025
The CVE-2005-0305 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting and command injection flaw within the Siteman content management system version 1.1.10 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically targets the users.php script where the line parameter is processed during the docreate operation, creating a pathway for remote attackers to manipulate the application's user creation functionality. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data, allowing malicious actors to inject carriage return line feed sequences that can alter the intended application behavior. Such vulnerabilities fall under the CWE-74 category of Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component, commonly known as CRLF injection, which is a well-documented weakness in web application security.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables attackers to inject malicious content into the user creation process by manipulating the line parameter during the docreate operation. When the application processes this parameter without proper validation, it allows for the insertion of CRLF sequences that can be leveraged to manipulate HTTP headers or inject additional commands. This particular flaw demonstrates a classic lack of proper input sanitization where the application fails to validate or escape special characters that could alter the application's execution flow. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data manipulation as it provides attackers with the capability to create arbitrary user accounts with elevated privileges, effectively compromising the entire system's access control mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using Siteman 1.1.10 or earlier versions, as it directly enables unauthorized privilege escalation and account creation. Attackers can exploit this weakness to establish persistent access points within the system, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts, as successful exploitation would allow attackers to create legitimate user accounts with administrative privileges. The impact is particularly severe because it bypasses normal authentication mechanisms, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive system resources and potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, and further lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to the latest version of Siteman where this vulnerability has been patched, applying input validation and sanitization measures to all user-supplied parameters, and implementing proper output encoding to prevent CRLF injection attacks. Security controls should include web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious CRLF sequences, regular security audits of input handling mechanisms, and comprehensive monitoring for unauthorized user creation activities. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten, particularly focusing on input validation and output encoding to prevent injection attacks. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege configurations and regular security assessments can help mitigate the risks associated with such vulnerabilities in legacy systems.