CVE-2005-2649 in ATutor
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in ATutor 1.5.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) course parameter in login.php or (2) words parameter in search.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2649 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in ATutor version 1.5.1, a widely used open-source learning management system. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user input parameters within two specific endpoints, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and output sanitization that has plagued web applications for decades, making it a prime target for exploitation in the broader landscape of web security vulnerabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through two distinct attack vectors within the ATutor application. The first vector targets the course parameter in the login.php file, while the second exploits the words parameter in search.php. Both vectors demonstrate the same fundamental flaw where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into web responses without adequate sanitization or encoding. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that gets executed when other users browse to affected pages. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should prevent such injection attacks. Attackers can leverage this weakness to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-2649 extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that compromise entire user sessions and potentially lead to full system compromise. When exploited, this vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in the browser context of legitimate users, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or even privilege escalation within the application. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that ATutor is designed for educational institutions, meaning that attackers could target students, faculty, or administrators with potentially sensitive academic or personal information. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for social engineering and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can use the injected scripts to establish further footholds within the compromised environment. The impact is exacerbated by the fact that these parameters are likely accessible through common user interactions, making exploitation relatively straightforward.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-2649 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities. The primary fix involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding across all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in authentication and search functions. Applications should employ context-appropriate encoding such as HTML entity encoding for output rendering and strict input validation that rejects or sanitizes potentially malicious content. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities and consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. The vulnerability underscores the importance of following secure coding guidelines and performing regular security assessments, as it represents a preventable flaw that could have been addressed through proper input sanitization practices. Additionally, implementing proper parameter validation and escaping mechanisms aligns with industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, which emphasize the critical need for input validation and output encoding as fundamental security controls.