CVE-2005-2397 in phpBook
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in guestbook.php in phpBook 1.46 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the admin parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2397 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the phpBook 1.46 guestbook application that fundamentally undermines web application security. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of injection attacks and specifically maps to CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is embedded into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability exists in the guestbook.php script where the application fails to properly sanitize or validate input received through the admin parameter, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing HTML or JavaScript code and injects it through the admin parameter in the guestbook.php script. When the vulnerable application processes this input without proper sanitization, the malicious code gets stored and subsequently executed within the browser context of legitimate users who view the guestbook entries. This creates a persistent XSS vector where the injected script can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or defacing the web page content. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the administrative functionality of the application, potentially allowing attackers to gain elevated privileges or compromise the entire guestbook system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or visual disruption. Attackers can leverage this weakness to establish persistent access to the application and potentially compromise user sessions through session hijacking techniques. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which describes the use of malicious code injection to execute arbitrary commands in web applications. Organizations using phpBook 1.46 are at risk of having their guestbook entries compromised, leading to potential data breaches, reputation damage, and unauthorized access to administrative functions. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of user data within the application, as any information entered through the guestbook could be intercepted or modified by attackers who exploit this flaw.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The application should sanitize all user inputs through proper escaping functions before processing or storing data, particularly for parameters that are used in HTML contexts. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit this vulnerability. The remediation process involves updating to a patched version of phpBook or implementing proper input sanitization routines that ensure all user-supplied data is properly validated and encoded before being processed by the application. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other parts of the application or related systems.