CVE-2005-0434 in PHP-Nuke
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Php-Nuke 7.5 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML or web script via (1) the newdownloadshowdays parameter in a NewDownloads operation or (2) the newlinkshowdays parameter in a NewLinks operation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0434 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness present in Php-Nuke version 7.5, specifically affecting the NewDownloads and NewLinks operational modules. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the web application's parameter handling processes. Attackers can exploit this flaw by manipulating the newdownloadshowdays and newlinkshowdays parameters through maliciously crafted HTTP requests, potentially executing arbitrary HTML code or web scripts within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in web applications where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without adequate validation or encoding. The flaw occurs when the application directly incorporates user-supplied input into dynamically generated web content without proper sanitization measures. In this case, the NewDownloads and NewLinks operations fail to adequately filter or escape special characters in the affected parameters, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that persist in the application's output.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations utilizing Php-Nuke 7.5 for content management or web publishing purposes. An attacker who successfully exploits these XSS vulnerabilities can execute various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web content, or redirection to malicious websites. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as the persistent nature of these vulnerabilities allows attackers to maintain long-term access to compromised systems, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability affects the application's core functionality, making it particularly dangerous as it targets fundamental web application operations rather than isolated features.
The attack vector for this vulnerability follows the typical pattern described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting web application interfaces. The exploitation process involves crafting malicious HTTP requests containing HTML or JavaScript payloads within the vulnerable parameters, which are then executed when legitimate users view the affected pages. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and the implementation of proper content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution. Additionally, upgrading to patched versions of Php-Nuke or implementing web application firewalls can provide effective protection against this specific vulnerability. The remediation approach should also include comprehensive security testing of all web application parameters and input fields to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application's codebase, aligning with security best practices established in industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.