CVE-2005-2324 in Clever Copy
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Clever Copy 2.0 and 2.0a allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the searchtype or searchterm parameters to (1) results.php or (2) categorysearch.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2324 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Clever Copy content management systems version 2.0 and 2.0a. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of user input within specific search parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of victim sessions. The vulnerability specifically affects two key files in the application's architecture: results.php and categorysearch.php, which process search functionality and user queries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the search parameter processing logic. When users submit search requests through the searchtype or searchterm parameters, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape these inputs before rendering them in web responses. This insufficient sanitization creates a condition where attacker-controlled data can be interpreted as executable code by web browsers, enabling malicious script injection attacks. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical weakness in web application security that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be exploited to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web content, and redirection to malicious websites. Attackers can craft specially formatted search queries that, when processed by the vulnerable application, will execute malicious scripts in the browsers of unsuspecting users who view the search results. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in content management systems where multiple users interact with the platform, as it can compromise user sessions and potentially lead to complete system compromise if combined with other exploitation techniques.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious links and T1059.001 for command and control through script injection. The attack vector typically involves an attacker constructing malicious search parameters that contain embedded script code, which is then executed when other users navigate to the affected search results page. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications, as it highlights how seemingly benign functionality like search can become a gateway for sophisticated attacks. Organizations using vulnerable versions of Clever Copy should implement immediate mitigations including input sanitization, proper output encoding, and application-level security patches to prevent exploitation.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires comprehensive application-level fixes that include implementing strict input validation for all user-supplied parameters, applying proper HTML entity encoding to output rendered content, and ensuring that all search functionality properly sanitizes user input before processing. Security measures should also include regular vulnerability assessments and input validation testing to identify similar weaknesses in other application components. Given the age of the affected Clever Copy versions, organizations should prioritize upgrading to supported versions or implementing web application firewalls as temporary protective measures until full remediation can be achieved.