CVE-2005-1803 in Net Portal Dynamic System
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Net Portal Dynamic System (NPDS) 5.0 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the language parameter to (1) admin.php, or (2) powerpack_f.php, (3) the sitename parameter to sdv_infos.php, (4) the categories parameter to faq.php, (5) the lettre parameter to the glossaire module, (6) the title parameter to reviews.php, or (7) the image_subject parameter to reply.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2025
The CVE-2005-1803 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Net Portal Dynamic System version 5.0, a web content management platform that was widely deployed in the early 2000s. This vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into web pages. The flaw manifests through multiple entry points within the application's core modules, making it particularly dangerous as attackers can exploit various vectors to inject malicious code. These vulnerabilities directly enable attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code in the context of victims' browsers, effectively compromising user sessions and potentially enabling further exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the NPDS 5.0 framework. Attackers can manipulate several parameters across different modules to inject malicious payloads, including the language parameter in admin.php and powerpack_f.php, sitename parameter in sdv_infos.php, categories parameter in faq.php, lettre parameter in the glossaire module, title parameter in reviews.php, and image_subject parameter in reply.php. Each of these parameters represents a distinct injection point where user-supplied data is directly embedded into web responses without proper sanitization. This failure to validate and escape user input creates persistent XSS vulnerabilities that can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication or privileged access. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it allows attackers to execute JavaScript code within victim browsers through crafted input fields.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-1803 extends far beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, deface websites, steal sensitive user information, and potentially escalate privileges within the affected system. When exploited, these vulnerabilities can allow attackers to manipulate the application's behavior, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute persistent malicious code that remains active until the user clears their browser cache. The attack surface is particularly broad due to the multiple vulnerable parameters, meaning that even if one injection point is patched, other vectors remain exploitable. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations using older NPDS versions where patch management may not have been consistently applied, leaving them exposed to persistent threats. The vulnerability's severity classification aligns with CVSS scoring systems that consider factors such as exploitability, impact, and the ease with which attackers can leverage these flaws to compromise user environments.
Organizations affected by CVE-2005-1803 should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters across the application's modules. The recommended approach involves implementing strict parameter validation, sanitizing all user input before processing, and escaping output data to prevent script execution in web contexts. Security teams should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities within the application's context. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security assessments and patch management, as NPDS 5.0 represents an outdated platform that would benefit from migration to supported, secure alternatives. The attack vectors identified in this vulnerability align with common exploitation patterns described in industry threat intelligence, particularly those targeting web application frameworks that lack proper input sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious parameter usage patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts.