CVE-2005-2803 in Hiki
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Hiki 0.8.1 to 0.8.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a page name in a Login link, a different vulnerability than CVE-2005-2336.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2803 represents a cross-site scripting flaw affecting Hiki versions 0.8.1 through 0.8.2, classified under CWE-79 as improper neutralization of input during web page generation. This vulnerability specifically manifests when processing page names within Login links, creating an avenue for remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into the application's web interface. The flaw operates by failing to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages, thereby allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious page name containing embedded script tags or HTML elements and then places this page name within a Login link. When other users navigate to this link or view pages containing the maliciously crafted page names, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities. This particular variant differs from CVE-2005-2336, which indicates that multiple XSS vulnerabilities exist within the same software version, each with distinct attack vectors and exploitation methods. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can be leveraged to perform session manipulation, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even deface web pages.
From an operational standpoint, this XSS vulnerability poses significant risks to web applications utilizing Hiki 0.8.1 to 0.8.2, particularly those handling user-generated content or requiring authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability can be exploited by attackers without requiring any special privileges or authentication, making it highly dangerous in environments where users interact with the application's content. The attack surface is broad as Login links are commonly used throughout web applications, and page names are often displayed in navigation menus or breadcrumbs. This vulnerability directly violates the principles of secure web application development as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the risk of injection flaws that can lead to unauthorized access and data compromise.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Developers should ensure that all user-supplied input, particularly page names and other dynamic content, is properly sanitized before being incorporated into web pages. This includes implementing proper HTML entity encoding for any content that might be displayed in web contexts, which aligns with the defensive programming practices recommended in the ATT&CK framework for preventing code injection attacks. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to a patched version of Hiki that addresses this specific vulnerability, as the software maintainers would have implemented proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms to prevent the injection of malicious content.