CVE-2005-2894 in PBLang
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the user registration in PBLang 4.65, and possibly earlier versions, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or PHP via the location field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2894 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the user registration functionality of PBLang version 4.65 and potentially earlier releases. This security weakness resides in the handling of user input during the registration process, specifically targeting the location field where attackers can inject malicious scripts. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as a code injection attack that enables attackers to execute scripts in the victim's browser context. The flaw demonstrates a critical failure in input validation and output encoding mechanisms that should have been implemented to prevent untrusted data from being executed as code.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker submits malicious code through the location field during user registration. When other users view the registration page or profile information containing the injected script, the malicious code executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. This type of attack leverages the trust relationship between the web application and its users, as the malicious script originates from a legitimate application source. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it occurs during user registration, a process that typically involves minimal input sanitization and may be accessed by unauthenticated users. Attackers can craft payloads that exploit the browser's interpretation of the injected content, making this a persistent threat that can affect all users of the vulnerable system.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-2894 extends beyond immediate script execution, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting through form hijacking or session manipulation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to create persistent backdoors within the application by injecting scripts that establish communication channels with attacker-controlled servers. The vulnerability also represents a significant risk to user privacy and application integrity, as it allows unauthorized parties to manipulate the application's behavior and potentially access sensitive user data. Organizations using affected versions of PBLang face potential compliance violations and reputational damage when such vulnerabilities are exploited, particularly in environments where user data protection is paramount.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied data, particularly fields that may contain HTML or script content. The implementation of proper output encoding techniques when displaying user-generated content prevents malicious scripts from executing in browser contexts. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to restrict script execution and employing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns. The remediation process should involve updating to the latest version of PBLang where the vulnerability has been patched, ensuring that all user input is properly validated and escaped before storage or display. Additionally, security testing should include comprehensive input validation checks and XSS vulnerability assessments to prevent similar issues in other application components, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1566 for credential harvesting through social engineering approaches.