CVE-2005-1895 in FlatNuke
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in FlatNuke 2.5.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the border or back parameters to (1) help.php or (2) footer.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1895 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within FlatNuke version 2.5.3, a content management system that was widely used in web publishing environments during that era. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input parameters, specifically targeting the border and back parameters within two key PHP files: help.php and footer.php. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious scripts or HTML code directly into the web application's output, creating a persistent security risk that can affect all users interacting with the compromised system. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited without requiring any special privileges or authentication from the attacker, making them highly attractive targets for malicious actors seeking to compromise web applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages. When attackers provide malicious input through the border or back parameters, the application processes this unvalidated data and includes it directly in the HTML output without appropriate encoding or filtering mechanisms. This creates an environment where JavaScript code or HTML tags can be executed in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the FlatNuke system by allowing unauthorized code execution within legitimate user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or manipulation, as it fundamentally compromises the trust model of the web application. When exploited, this XSS vulnerability can enable attackers to execute arbitrary code in users' browsers, potentially leading to complete session compromise, data exfiltration, or redirection to malicious sites. Users who visit pages containing the injected content may unknowingly execute malicious scripts that can capture keystrokes, steal cookies, or perform actions on behalf of the user. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it targets core system files that are frequently accessed and displayed, amplifying the potential reach of the exploitation. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566 for social engineering techniques, as attackers can leverage the compromised system to deliver additional payloads or manipulate user interactions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements within the FlatNuke system. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application, specifically ensuring that all user-supplied parameters are sanitized before being processed or displayed. Developers should employ context-specific encoding techniques, such as HTML entity encoding for output contexts, to prevent script execution. Additionally, implementing a comprehensive content security policy can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Security patches or upgrades to newer versions of FlatNuke should be prioritized, as this vulnerability represents a known flaw that has likely been addressed in subsequent releases. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious input patterns, while establishing regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other system components. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that input sanitization does not break existing functionality while effectively preventing the exploitation vector.