CVE-2005-2392 in CMS Made Simple
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php for CMSimple 2.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the search parameter in the search function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2392 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the CMSimple content management system version 2.4 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the index.php file and specifically affects the search functionality of the platform. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers who interact with the compromised website. Such attacks exploit the fundamental trust relationship between web applications and their users, creating a dangerous vector for various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the search parameter handling mechanism. When users submit search queries through the CMSimple interface, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input data before processing it for display. This lack of proper input filtering creates an opening for attackers to inject malicious payloads that get executed in the browsers of unsuspecting visitors. The vulnerability manifests as a reflected cross-site scripting issue, where the malicious script is reflected back to the user through the search results page, making it particularly effective for delivering attacks to multiple users simultaneously.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-2392 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface the compromised website, or even escalate their privileges within the CMS system. The reflected nature of the attack means that successful exploitation can occur without requiring persistent access to the server, making it particularly dangerous for websites that rely heavily on user-generated search queries. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically targeting the injection flaws category, and aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting vulnerabilities.
Organizations utilizing CMSimple 2.4 or earlier versions face significant security risks when this vulnerability remains unpatched, as it provides attackers with a straightforward path to compromise their web applications. The attack surface is particularly broad given that search functions are commonly used features on most websites, increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching to the latest available version of CMSimple, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and prevent malicious search queries. Additionally, security practitioners should consider implementing content security policies and regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities within their web applications. This vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices in web application development, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1190 which describes the use of client-side attacks for code execution.