CVE-2005-1191 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
The Web View DLL (webvw.dll), as used in Windows Explorer on Windows 2000 systems, does not properly filter an apostrophe (" ") in the author name in a document, which allows attackers to execute arbitrary script via extra attributes when Web View constructs a mailto: link for the preview pane when the user selects the file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-1191 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that emerged in the Windows 2000 operating system's web view functionality. This issue specifically affects the webvw.dll component within Windows Explorer, which is responsible for rendering document previews in the file explorer interface. The vulnerability manifests when users interact with documents that contain specially crafted author metadata, particularly those with apostrophe characters in the author name field. The flaw occurs during the construction of mailto: links for preview purposes, where the web view component fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into the generated hyperlink.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient input validation and sanitization within the web view DLL's processing pipeline. When Windows Explorer encounters a document with an author name containing an apostrophe character, the web view component does not adequately filter or escape this special character before using it to construct a mailto: hyperlink. This failure creates an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious script code through carefully crafted document metadata, which gets executed when the preview pane displays the document information. The vulnerability specifically targets the preview functionality of Windows Explorer, where the user interface constructs mailto: links based on document metadata, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently browse through document collections.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a means to compromise user systems through social engineering and document-based attacks. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it requires minimal user interaction beyond simply opening a document in the preview pane, making it a prime target for phishing campaigns and malicious document distribution. When an attacker crafts a document with malicious metadata containing an apostrophe followed by script code, the web view component's failure to sanitize this input results in arbitrary code execution within the context of the user's browser session. This vulnerability affects Windows 2000 systems and represents a significant security gap in the operating system's handling of document metadata, with implications for both individual users and enterprise environments where document sharing is common.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws resulting from inadequate input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data. From an adversarial perspective, this issue maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1203, which involves exploiting web browsers and applications to execute malicious code, and T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage. The attack surface is particularly broad given that Windows 2000 systems were widely deployed in enterprise environments, making this vulnerability a significant concern for organizations that had not yet migrated to newer operating systems. Mitigation strategies include applying Microsoft security patches, implementing document validation policies, and educating users about the risks of opening untrusted documents in the preview pane. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling the preview pane functionality for sensitive document collections or implementing network-level controls to prevent automatic execution of embedded scripts in document metadata.