CVE-2005-0656 in auraCMS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in auraCMS 1.5 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) hits parameter to hits.php, (2) query parameter to index.php, or (3) theCount parameter to counter.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0656 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in auraCMS version 1.5 that exposes the application to remote code execution through malicious web script injection. This vulnerability manifests across three distinct entry points within the content management system, each presenting unique attack vectors that collectively undermine the security posture of the platform. The presence of multiple XSS vulnerabilities in a single application version indicates a fundamental flaw in input validation and output sanitization mechanisms, suggesting inadequate security controls throughout the codebase.
The technical flaw resides in the improper handling of user-supplied input parameters within the three specified files. The hits parameter in hits.php, the query parameter in index.php, and the theCount parameter in counter.php all fail to adequately sanitize or validate incoming data before processing or rendering it within web pages. This lack of input validation creates an environment where malicious actors can inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, where applications fail to properly escape or validate user-controllable data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to establish persistent malicious presence within the application environment. Remote attackers can leverage these XSS vectors to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims, or even establish backdoor access through more sophisticated attack chains. The exposure of multiple attack surfaces increases the likelihood of successful exploitation, as attackers can choose the most effective vector based on their specific objectives and the target's security configuration. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that rely on user-generated content or dynamic parameter handling, making it a significant concern for any system that processes external input without proper validation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-0656 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected auraCMS version, as this represents the most effective solution to address the root cause of the vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all user-facing parameters, ensuring that all data entering the application is properly sanitized before processing. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper HTTP response headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against XSS exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious parameter values and injection attempts, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of adhering to secure coding practices and following the OWASP Top Ten security guidelines, particularly those related to input validation and output encoding, which are fundamental to preventing XSS attacks and align with ATT&CK technique T1203 for legitimate program execution.