CVE-2005-0660 in D-Forum
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in D-Forum 1.11 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via certain fields, as demonstrated using the page parameter in nav.php3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0660 represents a critical security flaw in D-Forum 1.11, a web-based discussion platform that was widely deployed for online community management. This issue manifests as multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that fundamentally compromise the application's security posture by allowing unauthorized attackers to inject malicious code into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability specifically affects the navigation functionality of the application through the page parameter in the nav.php3 file, which serves as a primary entry point for user interactions within the forum environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the D-Forum application. When users navigate through the forum using the page parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. This absence of proper sanitization creates an exploitable condition where malicious actors can craft specially formatted URLs containing embedded JavaScript code or HTML tags that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically classified as a reflected XSS attack where the malicious payload is reflected back to users through the application's response mechanism.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to perform sophisticated social engineering attacks and establish persistent access to forum environments. An attacker could inject malicious scripts that steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or manipulate forum content to spread further malware. The vulnerability's presence in nav.php3 suggests a fundamental flaw in the application's architecture where navigation parameters are not properly validated, potentially affecting all users who interact with the forum's navigation system. This creates a broad attack surface that could be exploited against any user visiting pages that utilize the vulnerable navigation functionality.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments and T1059.007 for command and control through web shells, as the injected scripts could establish persistent backdoors or exfiltrate sensitive data. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous in environments where forum administrators may not be security-aware. Organizations relying on D-Forum 1.11 would be vulnerable to credential theft, data manipulation, and potential compromise of the entire application infrastructure. The impact is amplified by the fact that forum users often trust the application environment, making the social engineering aspects of XSS attacks particularly effective.
The recommended mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. All user-supplied input, particularly navigation parameters and form fields, must undergo strict sanitization before being processed or displayed. The application should implement Content Security Policy headers to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts and ensure proper HTML escaping for all dynamic content generation. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in preventing XSS attacks, aligning with security best practices established in OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework guidelines for secure software development practices.