CVE-2005-2650 in Emefa Guestbook
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in sign.asp in Emefa Guestbook 1.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) name, (2) location, and (3) email parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2017
The CVE-2005-2650 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Emefa Guestbook version 1.2, specifically within the sign.asp component. This vulnerability exposes the application to malicious injection attacks that can compromise user sessions and execute unauthorized code within victim browsers. The flaw affects three primary input parameters including name, location, and email fields, making it particularly dangerous as these are commonly used and trusted data entry points in guestbook applications. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically identifying the failure to sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script code within any of the three vulnerable parameters. When the victim visits the guestbook page or interacts with the affected component, the malicious script executes in the victim's browser context, potentially stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or performing actions on behalf of the user. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft, session hijacking, or defacement of the guestbook interface. This type of attack directly violates the principle of secure input validation and demonstrates a fundamental failure in the application's data sanitization processes.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to web application security and user privacy. The guestbook application becomes a vector for delivering malicious payloads to unsuspecting visitors, potentially compromising the entire user base that interacts with the platform. The attack surface is broad due to the common usage of guestbook applications in various contexts including corporate websites, personal blogs, and community portals. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering tactics involving malicious file delivery through web-based attacks. The exploitation process requires minimal technical skill and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability effectively. The primary defense mechanism involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. This includes sanitizing all input parameters through whitelisting techniques or comprehensive HTML encoding to prevent script execution. Additionally, the application should employ Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating and sanitizing all user inputs, a principle that aligns with security standards such as OWASP Top Ten and ISO 27001 requirements for secure application development. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in legacy applications, as this flaw represents a common pattern in older web applications that lack modern security controls.