CVE-2005-2084 in Community Server Forums
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in SearchResults.aspx in Community Forum allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the q parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2084 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Community Forum's SearchResults.aspx page component. This security weakness specifically manifests when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input submitted through the q parameter, which is typically used for search queries. The flaw exists at the application layer where user-provided data flows directly into the web response without adequate sanitization mechanisms, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation practices within the forum's search functionality. When users submit search terms through the q parameter, the application processes these inputs without proper encoding or sanitization before rendering them in the HTML response. This allows attackers to embed malicious javascript code, html tags, or other harmful content that gets executed when other users view the search results page. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, where the application fails to properly escape or encode user-controllable data before including it in dynamically generated web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, redirect users to malicious sites, or steal sensitive information from authenticated users. An attacker could craft a search query containing malicious javascript that would execute in the browser of any user who views the search results, potentially compromising user sessions or stealing cookies. This vulnerability particularly affects the forum's user base since it leverages the legitimate search functionality to deliver malicious payloads, making it more difficult to detect and prevent. The attack vector is straightforward requiring only that a victim clicks on a malicious search result or visits a page containing the injected script.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-provided input through proper encoding before rendering it in web responses, specifically implementing html encoding for the q parameter values. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities and establish proper input validation routines that reject or sanitize potentially harmful characters. Additionally, the application should employ parameterized queries and input sanitization libraries to prevent injection attacks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering through malicious web content, specifically targeting the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities to deliver malicious payloads. Regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses in the application's codebase.