CVE-2005-2861 in N-Stealth
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in N-Stealth Commercial Edition before 5.8.0.38 and Free Edition before 5.8.1.03 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Server field in an HTTP response header, which is directly injected into an HTML report.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2861 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw affecting N-Stealth security software versions prior to specific patches. This vulnerability resides in the web application component of the N-Stealth suite, specifically within the HTTP response header processing mechanism where the Server field is handled. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a victim's browser session by manipulating the Server header value that gets directly embedded into HTML reports generated by the application. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a direct descendant of the fundamental web application security weakness that has plagued software development for decades. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it leverages the HTTP protocol's standard header fields, which are often processed without proper sanitization or encoding, creating an unexpected entry point for malicious code injection.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker can control or influence the Server field in an HTTP response header that gets rendered in the HTML output of N-Stealth's reporting functionality. When the application generates reports containing these headers, the unfiltered Server field value gets directly injected into HTML content without proper HTML escaping or encoding. This creates a scenario where malicious payloads can be executed in the context of any user viewing the affected report, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious script is reflected back to the user through the application's own output mechanism rather than being stored in a database. This particular weakness demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the importance of implementing proper output encoding mechanisms for all dynamic content generation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to compromise the confidentiality and integrity of the security monitoring environment. An attacker could craft malicious Server headers that, when processed by N-Stealth, would execute scripts designed to steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or even modify the reporting content to hide malicious activities. The implications are particularly severe for a security tool like N-Stealth, where the integrity of reports and monitoring data is paramount. When attackers can manipulate the very reports that security teams rely upon for threat detection, they essentially gain a foothold for further exploitation within the network monitoring infrastructure. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers script execution through web shells and command injection, demonstrating how such flaws can be leveraged for broader attack chains.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-2861 should focus on immediate patching of affected N-Stealth versions, with the specific versions mentioned in the CVE description requiring urgent attention. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding for all HTTP headers before they are rendered in HTML reports, ensuring that any special characters are properly escaped or encoded according to HTML standards. The implementation should follow secure coding practices that align with OWASP recommendations for XSS prevention, including the use of Content Security Policy headers and proper sanitization of all dynamic content. Additionally, network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect and alert on suspicious HTTP header patterns that could indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Regular security assessments should include testing for similar injection vulnerabilities in all web applications, particularly those handling user input or external data sources, as this vulnerability represents a common pattern that has been repeatedly observed across various software platforms throughout the industry's history.