CVE-2005-0782 in paFileDB
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in (1) viewall.php and (2) category.php for paFileDB 3.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the start parameter to pafiledb.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0782 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting paFileDB version 3.1 and earlier installations. This vulnerability resides in two specific script files within the application's codebase: viewall.php and category.php, which are part of the core file management functionality. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input received through the start parameter in the pafiledb.php script, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code 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 web applications. This weakness enables attackers to inject malicious code that can be executed by unsuspecting users who visit affected pages. The vulnerability operates through the manipulation of the start parameter, which is typically used for pagination purposes within the file database system. When an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing crafted script tags or HTML content within this parameter, the vulnerable application processes and displays this input without adequate sanitization or encoding, thereby executing the injected code in the victim's browser context.
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, defacement of the affected website, or redirection to malicious sites. Users who browse the vulnerable paFileDB installation and encounter the maliciously crafted URLs can unknowingly execute code that may steal their authentication tokens, redirect them to phishing sites, or modify the content displayed on the legitimate website. The vulnerability particularly affects users who have access to the file database system and are browsing pages that utilize the affected scripts, making it a significant threat to both administrators and regular users of the application.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical expertise, as attackers only need to construct malicious URLs with crafted payloads in the start parameter. This accessibility makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where the paFileDB application is widely used or publicly accessible. Organizations implementing this file management system without proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms face substantial risk of user data compromise and potential system infiltration. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper input sanitization and output encoding practices, which are fundamental requirements in the OWASP Top Ten security guidelines and align with the defense-in-depth principles recommended by NIST cybersecurity frameworks.
Effective mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. Developers should ensure that all user-supplied input, particularly parameters used for pagination and navigation, undergo strict sanitization before being processed or displayed. The implementation of proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content output helps prevent script execution in browser contexts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to add an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks. Regular security audits and code reviews focusing on input handling and output encoding practices can help identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of keeping web applications updated with the latest security patches and following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices and the ISO/IEC 27001 information security management standards.