CVE-2005-1735 in PROMS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in PROMS before 0.11 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2018
The CVE-2005-1735 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in PROMS versions prior to 0.11, specifically targeting cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that pose significant risks to web application security. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of CWE-79, which encompasses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a prime example of how inadequate input validation can lead to severe security breaches in web applications. The vulnerability exists within the PROMS (Presidential Office Resource Management System) software, which was designed for managing presidential office resources and likely contained web interfaces that were susceptible to malicious script injection attacks.
The technical flaw in PROMS stems from insufficient sanitization of user input across multiple vectors within the application's web interface. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting malicious scripts or HTML code that would be executed in the context of other users' browsers when they accessed compromised pages. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack vector means that malicious actors could exploit these flaws without requiring physical access to the system or any form of local privileges, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments. The unknown vectors referenced in the description suggest that the vulnerability may have affected multiple entry points within the application, potentially including form fields, URL parameters, or other user-controllable inputs that were not properly validated or sanitized.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code within users' browser contexts. This could enable a range of malicious activities including credential theft, session manipulation, redirection to malicious sites, or even the installation of persistent malware through browser-based attacks. The implications are particularly severe given that PROMS likely served sensitive government or organizational data, meaning that successful exploitation could compromise classified information or disrupt critical operations. The vulnerability's presence in a resource management system suggests that attackers could potentially manipulate access controls or gain unauthorized access to privileged functions, creating cascading security risks throughout the organization's digital infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-1735 should focus on immediate patching of the PROMS application to version 0.11 or later, which would contain the necessary input validation and sanitization fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive web application firewall rules to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts, while also conducting thorough code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The remediation process should include implementing proper input validation techniques such as HTML encoding, parameterized queries, and strict content type validation to prevent malicious code execution. Additionally, security teams should establish regular vulnerability assessment procedures to identify and address similar issues in other legacy applications that may be susceptible to the same class of vulnerabilities. This vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of secure coding practices and regular security updates in maintaining robust cybersecurity defenses against evolving threat landscapes.