CVE-2005-3000 in PHP Advanced Transfer Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in viewers/txt.php in PHP Advanced Transfer Manager 1.30 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) font, (2) normalfontcolor, or (3) mess[31] parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3000 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within the PHP Advanced Transfer Manager version 1.30 software suite. This particular flaw exists in the viewers/txt.php component which serves as a text file viewer interface for the application. The vulnerability manifests through three distinct parameter injection points that collectively create a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts within the context of user sessions. The affected parameters include the font parameter, normalfontcolor parameter, and the mess[31] parameter, all of which are processed without adequate input sanitization or output encoding mechanisms.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The flaw occurs because the application fails to properly validate or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. When an attacker supplies malicious script code through any of the three vulnerable parameters, the application processes this input directly without proper sanitization, allowing the injected code to execute within the browser context of legitimate users who view the affected content. This creates a persistent threat vector where malicious scripts can steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it fundamentally compromises the security model of the PHP Advanced Transfer Manager application. Attackers can leverage this weakness to establish persistent malicious presence within the application environment, potentially gaining access to sensitive data or using compromised user sessions to perform unauthorized operations. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the text viewer component, which means that any user interacting with text files through this interface becomes a potential target for XSS attacks. Given that this vulnerability affects version 1.30 of the software, it represents a significant security risk for organizations relying on this legacy application without proper patching or mitigation measures in place.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigation strategies including input validation, output encoding, and the application of security headers to reduce the attack surface. The recommended approach involves implementing strict parameter validation that rejects or sanitizes potentially malicious input before processing, combined with proper HTML encoding of all dynamic content before display. Additionally, the implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security updates and patch management processes, as this issue would have been resolved through the application of subsequent security patches released by the software vendor. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests targeting these specific parameter injection points, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential access through phishing attacks that could be facilitated by such XSS vulnerabilities.