CVE-2005-0378 in Horde
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Horde 3.0 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) group parameter to prefs.php or (2) url parameter to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-0378 represents a critical security flaw in the Horde web application framework version 3.0, specifically targeting cross-site scripting weaknesses that enable remote code execution through malicious web script injection. This vulnerability affects the authentication and preference handling components of the application, creating potential entry points for attackers to compromise user sessions and execute unauthorized commands within the context of affected web browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the Horde application's parameter handling mechanisms. Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by manipulating the group parameter in prefs.php or the url parameter in index.php to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content. The flaw occurs because the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages, allowing attackers to inject persistent or reflected script content that executes in the victim's browser context.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations utilizing Horde 3.0 applications, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, redirect victims to malicious sites, or execute arbitrary commands within the user's browser environment. The reflected nature of the XSS attack means that malicious payloads are executed immediately when users click on crafted links, while persistent variants could affect multiple users over time. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in CWE-79, which addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications.
The attack surface extends beyond simple script injection to include potential privilege escalation and data exfiltration capabilities, as attackers can leverage the compromised browser sessions to access sensitive application functionality and user data. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, specifically targeting the initial access phase through malicious web content delivery. Organizations running affected versions of Horde face substantial risk of unauthorized access and data breaches, particularly in environments where users interact with web-based email and calendar applications.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of the affected Horde 3.0 application to the latest secure version, implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and prevent malicious script injection attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing content security policies to restrict script execution and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications within the organization's infrastructure.