CVE-2005-0374 in Bitboard
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Bitboard 2.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via an [img] bbcode image tag with an event such as mouseover.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/29/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-0374 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Bitboard 2.5 content management system and earlier versions. This issue specifically targets the handling of bbcode image tags, which are commonly used in bulletin board systems and forums to embed images within posts. The vulnerability exists in the sanitization and validation processes that govern how user input is processed and rendered on web pages. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious bbcode tags that include event handlers, particularly mouseover events, which execute when users interact with the embedded content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the Bitboard application. When users submit posts containing [img] bbcode tags with event handlers, the system fails to properly sanitize these inputs before rendering them in the browser context. This allows attackers to inject malicious javascript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected posts. The mouseover event specifically demonstrates how event handlers can be leveraged to create persistent XSS attacks that activate during normal user interaction with the webpage. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which encompasses various methods of injecting malicious scripts into web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for any organization utilizing Bitboard 2.5 or earlier versions in their web infrastructure. Users who browse forums or bulletin boards that allow bbcode input become potential victims of this attack vector, as their browsers execute the injected scripts without proper security boundaries. The attack can be used to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, or even install malware on victim machines. Given that this vulnerability affects the core functionality of forum software, the attack surface extends to all users who interact with the platform, making it particularly dangerous for community-driven websites and online forums.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate attention through software updates and proper input validation implementations. Organizations should upgrade to Bitboard versions that address this specific XSS vulnerability, as the developers likely implemented proper sanitization of bbcode attributes and event handlers. Additionally, administrators should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and employ proper output encoding techniques when rendering user-generated content. The solution aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves using web applications to execute malicious scripts, and reinforces the importance of input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security principles. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications that may be susceptible to similar cross-site scripting attacks through improper handling of user input.