CVE-2005-0930 in Chatness
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in message.php in Chatness 2.5.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the user field or (2) the message parameter to message.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0930 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Chatness 2.5.1 web application, specifically within the message.php component. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which classifies improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a primary weakness. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through two distinct attack vectors within the message.php script. Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by manipulating either the user field or the message parameter, both of which are processed without adequate input validation or output encoding mechanisms. When user input is directly embedded into HTML responses without proper sanitization, malicious code can be executed in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or redirection to malicious sites. This type of vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK framework's T1566.001 technique, which encompasses the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities for initial access and privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent footholds within the application environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially steal session cookies, modify chat messages, or redirect users to phishing sites that appear legitimate. The vulnerability affects all versions of Chatness up to and including 2.5.1, indicating a widespread exposure across multiple installations. The attack requires minimal technical expertise and can be executed through simple web browser manipulation, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently interact with the chat application.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-0930 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to the latest available version of Chatness that addresses this vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout their web applications, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper HTML escaping techniques can provide additional defense layers against similar vulnerabilities. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in other web applications, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in preventing client-side attacks.