CVE-2005-2254 in PhpAuction
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in PhpAuction 2.5 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the lan parameter to (1) index.php or (2) admin/index.php, or (3) the auction_id parameter to profile.php. NOTE: there is evidence that viewnews.php and login.php may not be part of the PhpAuction product, so they are not included in this description.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2254 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within PhpAuction 2.5, a web-based auction platform that was widely used in the mid-2000s. This flaw resides in the application's input validation mechanisms, specifically failing to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages. The vulnerability affects multiple entry points within the application's codebase, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts within the context of authenticated users' browsers. The affected parameters include the lan parameter in both index.php and admin/index.php scripts, as well as the auction_id parameter in profile.php, all of which process user input without adequate sanitization measures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of HTTP request parameters within the application's server-side processing logic. When users submit data through the lan parameter or auction_id parameter, the application directly incorporates this input into HTML output without appropriate encoding or validation. This failure to sanitize input data creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that gets executed when other users view the affected pages. The vulnerability manifests as a classic reflected XSS flaw, where malicious input is immediately reflected back to the user's browser without proper sanitization, allowing for session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and more specifically CWE-79-2009 which covers the failure to sanitize input in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to compromise user sessions and gain unauthorized access to sensitive auction data. An attacker could craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when clicked by authenticated users, would execute in their browser context and potentially steal session cookies or modify auction settings. The vulnerability affects both regular users and administrators, as the same input sanitization flaws exist in both the public-facing index.php and the administrative admin/index.php. The attack vector requires minimal sophistication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through social engineering techniques such as phishing emails or compromised website links. The vulnerability's persistence in the application's codebase for an extended period indicates inadequate security testing and code review processes during the development lifecycle.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all user-facing parameters. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user inputs through proper HTML encoding before incorporating them into web page content, specifically implementing the htmlspecialchars() function in php applications to prevent script execution. Additionally, developers should implement proper parameter validation to ensure that input data conforms to expected formats and lengths. The application should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities and prevent unauthorized code injection. Organizations using PhpAuction 2.5 should consider upgrading to patched versions or migrating to more modern auction platforms that have robust security measures in place. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566 which covers social engineering techniques, and T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious scripts against targeted users. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and regular security assessments as outlined in the OWASP Top 10 security framework, particularly addressing the critical need for input validation and output encoding in web applications.