CVE-2005-2688 in SaveWebPortal
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in SaveWebPortal 3.4 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a large number of parameters to (1) footer.php, (2) header.php, (3) menu_dx.php, or (4) menu_sx.php, or Javascript code in the (5) HTTP_REFERER (referer) or (6) HTTP_USER_AGENT (user agent) fields.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2018
The CVE-2005-2688 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting SaveWebPortal version 3.4, demonstrating a fundamental failure in input validation and output sanitization within web applications. This vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 as improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically manifesting in the context of web applications that fail to properly escape or validate user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. The vulnerability exists due to the application's insufficient filtering of user input across multiple entry points, creating multiple attack vectors that can be exploited by remote adversaries without authentication requirements.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the injection of malicious scripts into various application parameters, including footer.php, header.php, menu_dx.php, and menu_sx.php files, which are typically included in web page rendering processes. Attackers can leverage these injection points to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. Additionally, the vulnerability extends to HTTP_REFERER and HTTP_USER_AGENT fields, which are commonly used by web applications for logging or dynamic content generation, making these vectors particularly dangerous as they can be manipulated through browser configuration or proxy settings.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant, as it allows attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The attack surface is broad due to the multiple injection points, and the vulnerability can be exploited through simple HTTP requests without requiring complex attack chains. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious links or web delivery, and T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter through JavaScript execution. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in persistent XSS attacks, where malicious scripts remain active in the application's response, affecting all subsequent users who access the vulnerable pages.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all application parameters. The recommended approach involves implementing strict sanitization of all user-supplied data, particularly before rendering in web pages or storing in application logs. Organizations should deploy Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution sources and implement proper encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding for all dynamic content. The solution should also include regular security audits of application code to identify similar vulnerabilities and the implementation of web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests. Additionally, application developers should follow secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and NIST guidelines, specifically addressing the prevention of XSS vulnerabilities through proper input validation and output encoding. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of defense-in-depth strategies and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of similar weaknesses in web applications.