CVE-2005-0548 in Solaris Answerbook2
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Solaris AnswerBook2 Documentation 1.4.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Search function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0548 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Solaris AnswerBook2 Documentation version 1.4.4 and earlier releases. This security weakness resides in the application's search functionality, which fails to properly sanitize user input before processing and displaying search results. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code through the search interface, potentially compromising the security of users who interact with the documentation system. The flaw operates by allowing unfiltered input to be directly embedded into web pages served by the AnswerBook2 application, creating an environment where malicious code execution can occur within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications. This classification indicates that the vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's search processing pipeline. When users submit search queries through the vulnerable interface, the application fails to implement proper sanitization measures that would normally filter out or escape potentially dangerous characters and script tags. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers can craft malicious search terms that, when processed by the application, will execute within the browser context of any user who views the search results, making it particularly dangerous for collaborative documentation environments where multiple users access shared resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it creates potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks within the Solaris environment. An attacker could leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or even execute arbitrary commands within the context of the user's browser session. The vulnerability affects systems running Solaris AnswerBook2 documentation servers, which are commonly deployed in enterprise environments where system administrators and developers rely on comprehensive technical documentation. Given that the search function is a core component of the documentation system, the attack surface is significant and the potential for exploitation is high, particularly in environments where the documentation system is publicly accessible or used by multiple users with varying levels of security awareness.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-0548 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Solaris AnswerBook2 installations to version 1.4.5 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's search processing pipeline to prevent malicious code injection. Network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls or security filters that can detect and block suspicious search queries containing common XSS attack patterns. Additionally, security awareness training for system administrators should emphasize the importance of keeping documentation systems updated and monitoring for potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities, underscores the need for comprehensive security monitoring and incident response procedures to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their documentation systems to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of their software infrastructure.