CVE-2005-1053 in ModernBill
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in orderwiz.php in ModernBill 4.3.0 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) c_code or (2) aid parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-1053 represents a critical security flaw in the ModernBill 4.3.0 web application that exposes users to cross-site scripting attacks. This issue affects the orderwiz.php script which processes customer order information and is particularly concerning as it impacts the core functionality of the billing system. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's parameter handling process, creating exploitable entry points for malicious actors seeking to compromise user sessions or inject harmful content into the application's interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through two specific parameter injection points identified as c_code and aid within the orderwiz.php script. When these parameters are passed to the application without proper sanitization, attackers can inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers. This occurs because the application fails to properly escape or validate user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages, creating a direct path for script execution. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security architecture. This particular implementation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection and T1566 for social engineering through malicious content delivery.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including credential theft, data exfiltration, and establishment of persistent backdoors within the application environment. Users who interact with the affected system may unknowingly execute malicious scripts that can capture their login credentials, modify order information, or redirect them to phishing sites. The vulnerability affects the entire user base of ModernBill 4.3.0 and earlier versions, making it particularly dangerous for businesses relying on this billing system for customer transactions. Attackers can leverage this flaw to manipulate order processing, potentially causing financial loss and operational disruption while maintaining stealth due to the legitimate-looking nature of the injected content.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to protect their systems and users. The primary remediation involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the orderwiz.php script to sanitize all user-supplied parameters before processing or rendering. This includes implementing strict parameter validation, using context-appropriate escaping functions, and applying the principle of least privilege for input handling. Additionally, organizations should deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit these parameters, while also implementing content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar cross-site scripting attacks. The remediation process should also include updating to newer versions of ModernBill where these vulnerabilities have been addressed, as well as implementing proper security training for developers to prevent similar issues in future application development cycles.