CVE-2005-1227 in PHProjekt
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in PHProjekt 4.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the chatroom text submission form.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1227 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within PHProjekt version 4.2 and earlier systems. This security weakness specifically targets the chatroom text submission functionality, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's chatroom component, which fails to properly filter or escape user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when users submit text content through the chatroom interface without proper sanitization of special characters or script tags. Attackers can exploit this weakness by embedding malicious JavaScript code or HTML elements within their chat messages, which then get executed when other users view the chatroom content. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws in web applications. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it operates through the legitimate chatroom functionality, making it difficult for users to distinguish between benign and malicious content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, deface web applications, steal sensitive user data, or redirect users to malicious websites. Since the vulnerability affects the core chatroom functionality of PHProjekt, it compromises the integrity of user communications and can be leveraged to spread malicious content across multiple users within the system. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require local system access or privileged accounts, making it particularly dangerous for collaborative environments where multiple users interact through the chat interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-1227 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied content undergoes strict sanitization before being rendered in web pages, utilizing proper HTML escaping techniques and implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. System administrators should prioritize immediate patching of affected PHProjekt installations, while also implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious chatroom activity. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses in other application components, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of sanitizing all user inputs in web applications.