CVE-2005-1581 in Bug Report
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Bug Report 1.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via various fields to bug_report.php, which are not filtered or quoted when processed by bug_list.php or admin/index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2017
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists in Bug Report version 1.0 where unfiltered user input is directly incorporated into web page output without proper sanitization or encoding. The flaw manifests when attackers submit malicious scripts through various input fields to the bug_report.php endpoint, which then gets processed and displayed in bug_list.php or admin/index.php without adequate filtering mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in the browser context, creating an environment where malicious code can execute within the victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows CWE-79 patterns for cross-site scripting, specifically targeting the lack of input validation and output encoding controls. Attackers can exploit this by injecting malicious javascript payloads, html tags, or other malicious content through the application's input forms. When the vulnerable application processes these inputs and displays them in the bug_list.php or admin/index.php pages, the injected scripts execute in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects multiple pages within the application's interface, amplifying the potential attack surface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities within the compromised user's session. An attacker could steal cookies, modify application data, or redirect users to phishing sites. The vulnerability affects both regular users and administrators, as the same flawed processing occurs in the admin interface. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly, as the application fails to properly sanitize inputs at any point in the data flow from submission to display. The vulnerability also violates security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the importance of input validation and output encoding.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding across all user-facing application components. The application must sanitize all user inputs using proper encoding techniques such as html entity encoding before rendering content in web pages. Implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) header can provide additional protection against script execution. Regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. The fix requires modifying the application code to properly validate and sanitize all inputs before they are stored or displayed, ensuring that any potentially malicious content is neutralized before reaching the end user. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and implementing defense-in-depth strategies as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework for web application security.