CVE-2005-1901 in Sawmill
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Sawmill before 7.1.6 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the username in the Add User window or (2) the license key in the Licensing page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1901 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Sawmill network monitoring and analysis software prior to version 7.1.6. This vulnerability resides within the application's input validation mechanisms, specifically affecting two distinct user interaction points within the software's administrative interface. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially compromising user security and data integrity. The vulnerability operates through two primary attack vectors that target different administrative functions of the application, creating multiple entry points for exploitation. The affected components include the Add User window functionality and the Licensing page, both of which process user-supplied input without adequate sanitization or validation measures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input filtering and output encoding practices within the Sawmill application's web interface. When users interact with the Add User window, the application fails to properly sanitize the username parameter before rendering it within the web page context, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content. Similarly, the Licensing page contains a comparable flaw in how it processes the license key input field. These weaknesses directly correspond to CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities resulting from improper validation or sanitization of user-supplied data. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient output escaping where application developers failed to implement proper HTML entity encoding for dynamic content that originates from user inputs.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-1901 extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code within the victim's browser environment. An attacker could potentially leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or even perform administrative actions on behalf of legitimate users. The implications are particularly severe in network monitoring environments where Sawmill is typically deployed, as these systems often contain sensitive network data and administrative credentials. The vulnerability affects the software's authentication and authorization mechanisms, potentially allowing unauthorized access to network monitoring features. According to ATT&CK framework category T1190, this vulnerability aligns with web application attacks that exploit client-side weaknesses, while also mapping to T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation through web-based interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding measures throughout the application's web interface. System administrators should prioritize upgrading to Sawmill version 7.1.6 or later, which includes patched code addressing the identified XSS flaws. The remediation process involves implementing comprehensive sanitization of all user-supplied input parameters, particularly those used in dynamic web content generation. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious requests targeting the vulnerable parameters. Additionally, security teams should implement regular input validation testing procedures and establish secure coding practices that enforce proper HTML escaping for all dynamic content. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation in web applications, particularly in security-critical software where administrative functions are exposed to network-based attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to further reduce the impact of potential XSS exploitation attempts.