CVE-2005-1016 in MaxWebPortal
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in links_add_form.asp for MaxWebPortal 1.33 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a Javascript URL in a banner URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1016 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the MaxWebPortal content management system version 1.33 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the links_add_form.asp component which processes user input for banner URLs, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input containing javascript URLs, allowing attackers to inject malicious code that executes in the victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the web application's form processing logic. When users submit banner URLs through the links_add_form.asp interface, the application does not sufficiently filter or encode special characters that could be interpreted as executable script code. This allows attackers to craft malicious URLs containing javascript protocols such as javascript:alert(document.cookie) or other malicious payloads that will execute when the compromised link is rendered in a user's browser. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications where untrusted data is improperly integrated into web pages without proper sanitization or encoding.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations using MaxWebPortal versions 1.33 or earlier. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface web pages, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as the vulnerability can be exploited to establish persistent malicious presence within the application environment. Users who view compromised banner links become victims of the attack, potentially leading to account takeovers, data exfiltration, and further exploitation of the compromised system. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers do not require local access or system credentials to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the affected application. Organizations must ensure that all user-supplied data, particularly URLs and form inputs, undergo strict sanitization before being rendered in web pages. The recommended approach involves implementing comprehensive input validation that rejects or encodes potentially dangerous characters and protocols within URLs. Additionally, proper output encoding should be applied when displaying user-generated content to prevent script execution. Security patches or updates from the vendor should be applied immediately, and the application should be configured to use Content Security Policy headers to further limit script execution capabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security scanning to detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities in other components of their web infrastructure. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would place it within the credential access and defense evasion domains, highlighting the need for comprehensive security measures that address both immediate exploitation and long-term protection strategies.