CVE-2005-0949 in PortalApp
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in content.asp in Iatek PortalApp allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) contenttype or (2) keywords parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0949 represents a critical security flaw in Iatek PortalApp's content.asp component that exposes the system to multiple cross-site scripting attacks. This vulnerability specifically affects the contenttype and keywords parameters, creating pathways for remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code into the application's response. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the web application's processing logic, allowing attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted malicious input.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. This classification indicates that the application fails to properly validate or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. The attack vector operates through the manipulation of HTTP parameters where the contenttype and keywords values are directly reflected in the application's output without appropriate sanitization measures. This creates a persistent security risk where any user input passed through these parameters can be executed in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the compromised systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues. Remote attackers can leverage these XSS vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary scripts in victims' browsers, potentially leading to complete session compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive information. The attack can be particularly devastating in enterprise environments where PortalApp may handle confidential business data or user credentials. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple parameters increases the attack surface and reduces the effectiveness of simple input filtering approaches. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing the injected scripts that, when visited by other users, execute the attacker's code within their browser context, creating a chain of potential security breaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-0949 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through strict validation and escaping techniques before processing or displaying any data. This includes implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all dynamic content and utilizing parameterized queries or validated input formats to prevent script injection. Organizations should also deploy web application firewalls and implement content security policies to add additional layers of protection. The remediation process requires thorough code review and patching of the content.asp component to ensure that both contenttype and keywords parameters are properly validated and sanitized before being incorporated into web responses. Additionally, regular security testing and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and address similar weaknesses in other application components that may present analogous attack vectors through the ATT&CK framework's web application attack patterns.