CVE-2005-2761 in phpGroupWare
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in phpGroupWare 0.9.16.000 allows administrators to inject arbitrary web script or HTML by modifying the main screen message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2761 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the phpGroupWare web application framework version 0.9.16.000. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of user input within the main screen message functionality, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated administrator sessions. The vulnerability specifically targets the administrative interface of phpGroupWare, which is a popular open-source groupware application designed to provide collaborative work environments with features including email, calendaring, and project management capabilities.
The technical exploitation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when an attacker manipulates the main screen message parameter through administrative interfaces, allowing them to inject malicious scripts that will be executed in the browsers of other administrators who view the affected page. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 classification for Cross-site Scripting, specifically representing a stored XSS attack vector where the malicious payload is permanently stored on the server and subsequently delivered to users. The flaw exploits the application's insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms, failing to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within the web interface. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized administrative actions, or redirect users to malicious websites, effectively compromising the security of the entire phpGroupWare installation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with elevated privileges within the application environment. Since the flaw targets administrator accounts, successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, allowing unauthorized individuals to access sensitive data, modify user permissions, and potentially escalate their access to underlying system resources. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security practices in input sanitization and output encoding, which are fundamental requirements for preventing XSS attacks according to the OWASP Top Ten security standards. Organizations using phpGroupWare 0.9.16.000 are particularly at risk as administrators may unknowingly execute malicious scripts when viewing the main screen message, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly until the vulnerability is addressed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-2761 should prioritize immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding measures within the phpGroupWare application. Security patches should be applied to sanitize all user input, particularly data entered into administrative message fields, before rendering it within the web interface. The application should implement strict content sanitization routines that remove or encode potentially dangerous characters and script tags from user-supplied content. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and the need for secure coding practices, including input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for credential access, emphasizing the potential for privilege escalation and unauthorized system access through the exploitation of such XSS flaws. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and monitor for unusual administrative activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.