CVE-2005-2480 in ColdFusion Fusebox
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in ColdFusion Fusebox 4.1.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the fuseaction parameter, which is not quoted in an error page, as demonstrated using index.cfm.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2480 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within ColdFusion Fusebox 4.1.0 software, specifically targeting the handling of user-supplied input in the fuseaction parameter. This weakness enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected applications, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize or quote user input before rendering it in error pages, creating an avenue for attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the victim's browser context.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the fuseaction parameter within the index.cfm file, which serves as the primary entry point for ColdFusion Fusebox applications. When an attacker submits a malicious value through this parameter, the application processes the input without adequate sanitization measures, particularly in error page rendering contexts where the unescaped parameter value is directly embedded into HTML output. This lack of proper input validation and output encoding creates a persistent XSS vector that can be leveraged to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws arising from insufficient output escaping or encoding of user-controllable data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains targeting authenticated users within the application environment. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by unsuspecting users, execute arbitrary code in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or privilege escalation within the application. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of ColdFusion Fusebox applications, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on this framework for web application development. The error page rendering mechanism becomes a critical attack surface where user input transitions from application processing to browser execution without proper sanitization.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding mechanisms that ensure all user-supplied parameters are properly sanitized before being processed or displayed. The recommended approach involves implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all dynamic content rendered in error pages, ensuring that special characters including quotes, angle brackets, and script tags are appropriately escaped. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and restrict the sources from which scripts can be loaded. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and input validation testing as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security practices, particularly focusing on the prevention of XSS vulnerabilities in web applications. Organizations should also consider upgrading to patched versions of ColdFusion Fusebox or implementing web application firewalls as additional protective measures against exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.