CVE-2005-1999 in pafiledb
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in pafiledb.php in paFileDB 3.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) sortby or (2) filelist parameters to the category action (category.php), or (3) pages parameter in the viewall action (viewall.php).
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-1999 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting paFileDB 3.1, a popular file management system for phpBB forums. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input parameters within specific PHP scripts, creating opportunities for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw specifically impacts two distinct file processing mechanisms: category.php and viewall.php, which are fundamental components for navigating and displaying file listings within the paFileDB system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the paFileDB application's parameter handling logic. Attackers can exploit three distinct vectors to inject malicious payloads through the sortby and filelist parameters in the category action, as well as the pages parameter in the viewall action. These parameters are processed without adequate filtering or encoding, allowing attackers to inject HTML tags and JavaScript code that gets executed when legitimate users view the affected pages. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content, making it a classic example of client-side code injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. When exploited, the XSS vulnerability allows attackers to establish persistent presence within the application's user base, potentially compromising user sessions and accessing sensitive information. The attack requires no special privileges or authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone who can access the vulnerable paFileDB installation. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for the initial access phase, specifically through the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-1999 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding throughout the paFileDB application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied parameters before processing them, particularly those used in URL parameters and form inputs. Organizations should implement a comprehensive input validation framework that filters out potentially dangerous characters and patterns, including angle brackets, script tags, and various encoding sequences. Additionally, output encoding should be applied when rendering user-supplied content to ensure that any injected HTML or JavaScript is treated as literal text rather than executable code. The recommended solution includes updating to a patched version of paFileDB or implementing a web application firewall rule that blocks known malicious patterns in the affected parameters. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments and maintain up-to-date knowledge of security patches for all third-party applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in production environments.