CVE-2005-0873 in Oracle
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in test.jsp in Oracle Reports Server 10g (9.0.4.3.3) allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) desname or (2) repprod parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0873 represents a critical security flaw in Oracle Reports Server 10g version 9.0.4.3.3 that exposes the system to cross-site scripting attacks. This vulnerability specifically affects the test.jsp component within the Oracle Reports Server environment, creating a significant attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the test.jsp script. Attackers can manipulate two distinct parameters named desname and repprod to inject malicious payloads that will be executed when the vulnerable page is rendered. The flaw occurs because the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamic web content, allowing attackers to inject script code that executes in the victim's browser. This represents a classic case of improper input validation that violates security best practices and creates persistent XSS vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-0873 is severe and multifaceted within enterprise environments utilizing Oracle Reports Server. Successful exploitation can lead to session hijacking, where attackers can steal user authentication tokens and impersonate legitimate users. Additionally, the vulnerability enables attackers to perform actions on behalf of users, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. The attack can also facilitate the delivery of malware through browser-based exploits, as the injected scripts can leverage the trusted relationship between the user's browser and the Oracle Reports Server application. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on web-based reporting functionalities and could compromise sensitive business intelligence data.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a weakness in web applications that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The attack vector maps to the ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers the use of malicious web content to execute code in user browsers. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation at multiple layers, output encoding of dynamic content, and the implementation of Content Security Policy headers. The recommended remediation involves patching the Oracle Reports Server to a version that properly sanitizes input parameters or implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious requests. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify similar input validation weaknesses across other web applications within their environment, as this represents a common class of vulnerabilities that can be exploited across various platforms and technologies.