CVE-2005-1886 in YaPiG
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in view.php in YaPiG 0.92b, 0.93u and 0.94u allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the phid parameter or (2) unknown parameters when posting a new comment.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1886 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the YaPiG content management system versions 0.92b, 0.93u, and 0.94u. This weakness resides in the view.php script which processes user input without adequate sanitization or validation, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability manifests through two distinct attack vectors: the phid parameter and unspecified parameters during comment submission processes, both of which fail to properly filter user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the YaPiG application. When the application processes the phid parameter or other user-submitted data through the view.php endpoint, it directly incorporates user-provided content into web pages without proper sanitization measures. This failure to implement proper input validation aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities resulting from inadequate sanitization of user-controllable data. The vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that can execute in 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 enables attackers to manipulate the application's behavior and compromise user security. An attacker could craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when visited by other users, would execute in their browser sessions. This capability could be leveraged to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or modify the application's interface to deceive users into revealing sensitive information. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of comment posting and parameter handling, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited during routine user interactions with the application's commenting system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input before processing and ensuring that all output is properly encoded for the context in which it appears. This includes implementing proper HTML escaping for web content, validating parameter types and lengths, and employing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security code reviews to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future development cycles. The remediation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which addresses social engineering through malicious code injection, emphasizing the need for robust input validation to prevent such attacks. Regular updates and patch management procedures should be implemented to ensure that all vulnerable versions of YaPiG are promptly upgraded to secure releases that address this specific XSS vulnerability.