CVE-2005-0407 in Openconf
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Openconf 1.04, and possibly other versions before 1.10, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and web script via the paper title.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2018
The CVE-2005-0407 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Openconf version 1.04 and potentially affecting earlier releases up to version 1.10. This vulnerability resides within the paper title input field of the Openconf conference management system, which is widely used for academic and professional conference organization. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious HTML and JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers, creating a significant security risk for conference organizers and participants who rely on the system for paper submissions and management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the Openconf application. When users submit paper titles containing malicious script code, the system fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript by web browsers. This allows attackers to inject payloads that execute in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user. The vulnerability specifically targets the paper title field, which is typically displayed prominently within the conference interface, amplifying the impact of successful attacks.
The operational impact of this XSS vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors that compromise the integrity of the entire conference management system. Attackers could craft malicious paper titles that redirect users to phishing sites, steal session cookies, or modify conference data through DOM-based attacks. Given that Openconf is used in academic and professional settings where sensitive research data and personal information are handled, the potential for data exfiltration or system compromise is substantial. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate users but also the broader conference community, as compromised systems could be used to launch further attacks against other participants or infrastructure.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly in fields that are later rendered in web pages, using proper HTML entity encoding techniques. Additionally, implementing a content security policy that restricts script execution and using secure coding practices such as parameterized queries and proper input filtering can significantly reduce the attack surface. Organizations using Openconf should immediately upgrade to version 1.10 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed, while also conducting thorough security reviews of all input fields within the application to identify and remediate similar issues. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and follows attack patterns described in the ATT&CK framework under web application attacks, particularly those involving client-side exploitation techniques.