CVE-2005-1684 in episodex guestbook
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in default.asp for episodex guestbook allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Name field and other fields.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-1684 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the episodex guestbook application's default.asp component. This security weakness resides in the web application's input validation mechanisms, specifically targeting the Name field and other user-input parameters that are processed without adequate sanitization or encoding. The flaw enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code directly into the guestbook interface, creating a persistent security risk for all users who view the affected pages.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw where untrusted data is embedded into web pages viewed by other users. The attack vector operates through the web application's failure to properly escape or validate user-supplied input before rendering it in the browser context. When users enter data into the Name field or other accessible parameters, the application processes this information without implementing proper output encoding or input filtering mechanisms. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that execute within the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent footholds within the web application environment. The guestbook functionality typically serves as a public-facing interface where users can leave comments or entries, making it an attractive target for exploitation. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject phishing content that appears legitimate to visitors. The vulnerability's persistence stems from the fact that once malicious code is injected, it remains active in the guestbook entries and executes every time the page is loaded, potentially affecting numerous users over extended periods.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data handling pipeline. The most effective approach involves applying proper HTML entity encoding to all user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages, ensuring that special characters like angle brackets, quotes, and script tags are properly escaped. Additionally, implementing a whitelist-based input validation approach that only accepts known safe characters and formats can prevent malicious payloads from being processed. The solution should also incorporate Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to add an additional layer of protection against script execution. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security scanning to detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities in other application components, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1584 for defensive measures against web application attacks.