CVE-2005-1778 in PostNuke
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in readpmsg.php in PostNuke 0.750 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the start parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1778 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the PostNuke content management system version 0.750. This security weakness resides in the readpmsg.php component which processes user messages, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize or validate input parameters, particularly the start parameter that controls message pagination and display.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the readpmsg.php script. When users navigate through message lists using the start parameter, the application directly incorporates this parameter into the HTML output without appropriate sanitization or encoding measures. This allows attackers to craft malicious URLs containing script tags or other HTML content within the start parameter value. When legitimate users access these crafted URLs, their browsers execute the injected scripts in the context of the vulnerable PostNuke application, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to PostNuke installations, particularly in environments where users have the ability to send private messages or where message lists are publicly accessible. Attackers can exploit this flaw to steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or inject malicious content that persists across user sessions. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting or establishment of persistent backdoors within the application environment. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and demonstrates the classic attack pattern described in the ATT&CK framework under T1531 for "Credential Access" and T1566 for "Phishing" techniques.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding practices. System administrators should ensure that all user-supplied input parameters are sanitized and validated before being processed or displayed. The recommended approach involves implementing strict parameter validation for the start parameter, ensuring it only accepts numeric values within acceptable ranges, and applying appropriate HTML entity encoding to all dynamic content before rendering. Additionally, implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) header can provide an additional layer of protection against script execution. Organizations should also consider upgrading to patched versions of PostNuke or migrating to more modern content management systems that have robust built-in protections against such vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be implemented to prevent similar issues in other application components, as this vulnerability exemplifies the importance of defense-in-depth security practices.