CVE-2005-1300 in inserter.cgi
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the inserter.cgi script allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the argument.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-1300 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the inserter.cgi script, a common component in web applications that handles user input processing. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting attacks where malicious scripts are injected into web applications. The flaw exists in how the application processes and validates input parameters, creating an opportunity for remote attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of other users' browsers. The inserter.cgi script, typically used for inserting content or data into web applications, fails to properly sanitize user-supplied arguments, allowing malicious input to be interpreted as executable code rather than benign data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the script receives an argument parameter that is not adequately validated or escaped before being rendered in the web page output. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that contain script tags or other executable code within the argument field, which then gets executed when other users view the affected page. This creates a persistent threat vector where the malicious code can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform other harmful actions on behalf of the victims. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication or privileged access to exploit, making it accessible to any remote attacker with knowledge of the target application's structure.
From an operational perspective, this XSS vulnerability can have severe consequences for both users and organizations. When successful, the attack can lead to session hijacking, where attackers gain unauthorized access to user accounts and can perform actions as if they were legitimate users. The impact extends beyond individual user compromise to potentially affect the entire application ecosystem, as attackers might use the vulnerability to redirect traffic to phishing sites or to inject malware delivery mechanisms. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1531 - Account Access Token Manipulation and T1071.001 - Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, as it leverages web application vulnerabilities to manipulate user sessions and access tokens. The attack can result in data breaches, financial loss, and reputational damage for affected organizations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term prevention measures. The primary fix involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding techniques, ensuring that all user-supplied arguments are sanitized before being processed or displayed. This includes implementing proper HTML escaping mechanisms and employing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution. Organizations should also adopt secure coding practices that align with OWASP Top Ten recommendations, particularly focusing on input validation and output encoding. Regular security testing, including automated scanning and manual penetration testing, should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious input patterns can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts.