CVE-2005-1620 in Skull-Splitter Guestbook
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Skull-Splitter Guestbook 1.0, 2.0 and 2.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) title or (2) content of a message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2025
The CVE-2005-1620 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw affecting the Skull-Splitter Guestbook software versions 1.0, 2.0, and 2.2. This vulnerability resides in the web application's input validation mechanisms, specifically within the message handling functionality where users can submit entries containing both title and content fields. The flaw stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data before rendering it within the web page context, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts in the victim's browser environment.
This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-79, which categorizes it as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')". The attack vector specifically targets the guestbook's message submission process where the title and content parameters are not properly escaped or validated before being displayed to other users. When a victim visits a page containing maliciously crafted guestbook entries, the injected script executes within their browser context, potentially compromising their session or redirecting them to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. The attacker can craft payloads that steal cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or inject malicious content that persists across multiple user sessions. This type of vulnerability particularly affects web applications that store and display user-generated content without proper input sanitization, making it a significant concern for any guestbook or comment system implementation. The vulnerability affects the application's integrity and user trust, as legitimate users may unknowingly interact with malicious content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-1620 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user input through proper escaping techniques before rendering content in web pages, particularly for html, javascript, and url contexts. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, employ input validation libraries, and ensure proper output encoding for all dynamic content. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious links and T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter execution. Regular security audits and web application firewalls can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while updating to patched versions of the Skull-Splitter Guestbook software provides the most effective long-term solution.