CVE-2005-0889 in Koobi CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php for Dream4 Koobi CMS 4.2.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the area parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2025
The CVE-2005-0889 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Dream4 Koobi CMS 4.2.3 content management system that exposes web applications to persistent client-side attacks. This vulnerability specifically targets the index.php script and exploits a weakness in how the application processes the area parameter, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw exists due to inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before rendering it within web pages. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical security weakness in web applications. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including web-based interfaces, email, or any means that allows an attacker to inject malicious payloads into the targeted parameter.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing HTML or JavaScript code and submits it through the vulnerable area parameter in the index.php script. When the CMS processes this input without proper sanitization, the malicious code gets stored or directly executed in the browser context of unsuspecting users who visit pages containing the injected content. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web pages, and redirection to malicious sites. This vulnerability particularly affects the integrity and confidentiality of user sessions, as attackers can potentially steal cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive information that users might have in their browser. The attack requires no special privileges or access to the server itself, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through any user interaction with the vulnerable web application.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-0889 extends beyond immediate exploitation to create long-term security risks for organizations using the affected CMS version. Once exploited, attackers can maintain persistent access to user sessions, potentially compromising multiple users over time. The vulnerability can lead to complete compromise of user accounts, data exfiltration, and unauthorized modifications to web content. Organizations may face regulatory compliance violations, reputational damage, and potential legal consequences if user data is compromised through such attacks. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor security practices in input validation and output encoding that are fundamental to secure web application development. From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability can result in significant downtime, remediation costs, and the need for immediate security patches or application updates to prevent exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-0889 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening of the affected system. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding techniques to prevent malicious code from being executed within the application context. This includes sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper escaping mechanisms before rendering it in web pages, implementing Content Security Policy headers, and using secure coding practices that follow the OWASP Secure Coding Practices. Organizations should upgrade to patched versions of the Dream4 Koobi CMS or implement web application firewalls to filter malicious requests. The implementation of proper parameter validation, including length restrictions and character set validation for the area parameter, would prevent the injection of malicious payloads. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application, as this vulnerability represents a common weakness that may exist elsewhere in the codebase. Security teams should also implement monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures to address successful attacks.