CVE-2005-2112 in XOOPS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in XOOPS 2.0.11 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) order parameter to edit.php or (2) cid parameter to comment_edit.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2112 represents a critical security flaw in the XOOPS content management system version 2.0.11 and earlier. This issue manifests as multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that enable remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically affects two distinct entry points within the application's codebase, creating multiple attack vectors for potential exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the XOOPS framework. Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by manipulating the order parameter in the edit.php script and the cid parameter in the comment_edit.php script. These parameters are directly incorporated into the web page output without proper sanitization, allowing malicious code to be executed when users view the affected pages. The flaw operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without adequate validation or encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized administrative actions within the XOOPS environment. An attacker who successfully exploits these vulnerabilities can potentially gain elevated privileges, modify content, or redirect users to malicious websites. The remote nature of the attack means that no local access is required, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from anywhere on the internet. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering attacks that can include cross-site scripting as a method for delivering malicious payloads.
The exploitation process involves crafting malicious input that includes script tags or other HTML elements in the vulnerable parameters. When the affected XOOPS application processes these parameters and displays them on web pages, the malicious code executes in the context of legitimate users' browsers. This creates a persistent threat where users who visit affected pages become unwitting participants in the attack. The vulnerability affects not only the end users but also the administrators who may be tricked into viewing malicious content through comments or edited content.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the affected XOOPS versions to the latest available releases that contain proper input validation and output sanitization. Organizations should implement proper parameter validation at multiple levels including input sanitization, output encoding, and Content Security Policy implementation. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. The remediation process should also include user education about recognizing suspicious content and implementing web application firewalls to detect and prevent such attacks. Security frameworks such as OWASP Top 10 should be referenced to ensure comprehensive protection against this class of vulnerabilities.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and highlights how seemingly minor flaws in parameter handling can lead to significant security breaches. The attack vectors identified in CVE-2005-2112 are classic examples of how insufficient sanitization of user-provided data can create persistent security risks that affect the entire user base of the application.