CVE-2005-0514 in Ultraseek
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Verity Ultraseek before 5.3.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and web script via search parameters.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0514 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Verity Ultraseek search software prior to version 5.3.3. This issue falls under the broader category of web application security vulnerabilities that have long been recognized as significant threats to user data and system integrity. The vulnerability specifically affects the search functionality of the software, which is commonly deployed in enterprise environments for document and content indexing. Organizations utilizing this search platform were exposed to potential attacks that could compromise user sessions and data confidentiality through malicious script injection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the search parameter processing components of Verity Ultraseek. When users submit search queries through the web interface, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters in the search parameters before rendering them back to the user's browser. This allows attackers to inject malicious HTML tags and JavaScript code directly into the search input fields. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user-supplied data, where the software does not adequately distinguish between legitimate search content and potentially harmful script code. This primitive form of input sanitization failure creates an exploitable condition that enables attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of the victim's browser session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking. Attackers could leverage this weakness to perform various malicious activities including stealing user credentials, defacing web pages, redirecting users to phishing sites, or even executing more sophisticated attacks such as cookie theft and privilege escalation within the application's context. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the system or any insider knowledge of the internal network structure. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users interact with the search platform daily. The attack surface is further expanded because the search functionality is often exposed to external users, making it a prime target for exploitation.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Verity Ultraseek version 5.3.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation issues. Additional protective measures include implementing proper output encoding for all user-supplied content, deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block XSS patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with attack techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the application layer attacks category. Security teams should also consider implementing content security policies and input validation controls to prevent similar issues in other applications within their environment. Regular security training for developers on secure coding practices remains essential to prevent such vulnerabilities from being introduced during the software development lifecycle.