CVE-2005-0662 in MercuryBoard
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php for MercuryBoard 1.1.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Avatar field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-0662 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that existed within the MercuryBoard 1.1.2 web application. This issue specifically targets the index.php script and affects the Avatar field functionality, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of users' browsers. The vulnerability operates by failing to properly sanitize user input before rendering it within web pages, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code that gets executed when other users view the affected content.
This particular XSS vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The attack vector leverages the Avatar field as an entry point, which is typically designed to accept user-uploaded images or image URLs. When users browse pages where these avatars are displayed without proper input validation or output encoding, malicious scripts can be executed in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input sanitization practices and inadequate output encoding mechanisms that are fundamental requirements for preventing XSS attacks according to industry security standards.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious sites. Users who view pages containing malicious avatar content could have their browser sessions compromised, potentially allowing attackers to impersonate legitimate users and access sensitive information. The remote nature of this attack means that exploitation does not require any local access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that allow user-generated content. This vulnerability represents a critical security gap that violates the principle of least privilege and proper input validation, as it allows untrusted user input to directly influence the application's output without adequate sanitization.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The recommended approach includes sanitizing all user input through proper validation techniques such as allowing only specific character sets, implementing length restrictions, and using strict validation for URL formats when accepting avatar images. Output encoding should be applied whenever user data is rendered in web pages, particularly in HTML contexts where the data could be interpreted as executable code. Additionally, implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) header can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to the ATT&CK framework's T1203 technique for exploitation through web application vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing and input validation measures. Organizations should also consider implementing Web Application Firewalls (WAF) to detect and prevent such attacks, while maintaining regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of their applications.