CVE-2005-1320 in Mnemo
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Horde Mnemo Note Manager before 1.1.4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the parent s frame page title.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2019
The CVE-2005-1320 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Horde Mnemo Note Manager application, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.1.4. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user input within the parent s frame page title parameter, creating a significant security risk for web applications that utilize this component. The flaw demonstrates the persistent challenge of input validation and output encoding in web applications, where insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data can lead to malicious code execution in the context of other users' browsers. This particular vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws identified by the CWE organization. The attack vector leverages the fact that the application fails to properly sanitize or encode user input before incorporating it into dynamic web page content, allowing an attacker to inject malicious scripts that execute in the victim's browser when they view the affected page.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing script code within the parent s frame page title parameter. When the vulnerable application processes this input and displays it without proper sanitization, the injected script code becomes part of the HTML response sent to the victim's browser. The execution context of this XSS attack is particularly concerning because it occurs within the context of the legitimate web application, making it difficult for users to distinguish between legitimate and malicious content. This type of vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK framework's T1566.001 technique, which involves the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code in the context of a victim's browser session. The impact is amplified when considering that the Mnemo Note Manager is a web-based application that likely stores and retrieves user data, meaning that the injected scripts could potentially access session cookies, modify application behavior, or redirect users to malicious sites.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-1320 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, data theft, and credential harvesting. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal authentication tokens, modify user preferences, or even redirect users to phishing sites that appear legitimate. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple user sessions makes it particularly dangerous in shared or multi-user environments where the injected malicious code could affect numerous individuals. Organizations using affected versions of Horde Mnemo Note Manager face significant risk of compromise, especially in environments where users may be less security-aware or where the application is integrated with other systems that trust the application's output. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding practices, as it highlights how a single unsanitized parameter can create a complete attack surface for malicious actors. The flaw also underscores the necessity of keeping web applications updated with security patches, as version 1.1.4 and later versions presumably contain the necessary fixes to prevent this specific XSS vector.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve both immediate remediation and long-term security practices. The primary solution is to upgrade to Horde Mnemo Note Manager version 1.1.4 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms that sanitize all user-supplied data before processing or displaying it within web pages. The implementation of proper output encoding techniques, particularly for dynamic content generation, is essential to prevent script injection attacks. Security measures should include content security policies that restrict script execution within the application context, as well as regular security assessments of web applications to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and security monitoring systems can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of following secure coding practices and maintaining up-to-date security measures, as the fix for this particular issue represents a fundamental security improvement that should be standard practice in all web application development. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to help reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that might exploit this vulnerability.