CVE-2005-0309 in Exponent
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in (1) index.php or (2) mod.php in Exponent 0.95 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the module parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0309 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Exponent 0.95 content management system. This vulnerability manifests in two primary locations within the application's core files, specifically index.php and mod.php, where improper input validation allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content. The flaw occurs when the module parameter is processed without adequate sanitization, creating an avenue for attackers to execute malicious code within the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting conditions where input is not properly validated or escaped before being rendered in web pages. The attack vector leverages the trust relationship between the web application and its users, enabling unauthorized code execution in the victim's browser environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, deface web pages, steal sensitive user data, or redirect users to malicious websites. When remote attackers exploit this vulnerability through the module parameter, they can manipulate the application's behavior to serve malicious content to unsuspecting users. The consequences can be particularly severe in environments where Exponent CMS is used for content management, as the injected scripts could compromise user sessions, access sensitive administrative functions, or modify content in ways that could damage organizational reputation. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes the use of malicious content delivery methods to gain initial access to target systems through web-based attacks.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2005-0309 requires minimal prerequisites as attackers only need to craft malicious URLs containing the module parameter with injected script content. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input handling practices where user-supplied data flows directly into the application's output without proper HTML encoding or validation. This flaw exists in the application's core processing logic where parameters are accepted without sanitization, making it particularly dangerous as it affects fundamental application components. Security practitioners should note that the vulnerability affects the application's authentication and authorization mechanisms by potentially allowing attackers to bypass normal access controls through script injection. The impact is amplified in multi-user environments where the injected scripts could affect multiple users simultaneously, potentially compromising entire user bases within the CMS environment. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation, output encoding, and regular security updates to address this vulnerability and similar XSS weaknesses in their web applications.