CVE-2005-3361 in FlatNuke
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in forum/index.php in FlatNuke 2.5.6 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the nome parameter in a login operation, a variant of CVE-2005-3306.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-3361 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the FlatNuke 2.5.6 content management system that specifically targets the forum component during user authentication processes. This security weakness resides in the forum/index.php file where the nome parameter is improperly handled during login operations, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw operates as a variant of CVE-2005-3306, indicating a similar pattern of input validation failure that has been previously documented in the security community.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user input within the login form processing mechanism. When users attempt to log in through the forum interface, the nome parameter which typically contains username information is not properly validated or escaped before being processed and potentially displayed back to users. This failure to implement proper input sanitization creates an environment where attackers can embed malicious scripts within the username field, which then executes when other users view the forum content or interact with the affected page. The vulnerability specifically manifests during authentication operations, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by attackers who may not need to be authenticated themselves to cause significant harm.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious websites. Given that the flaw occurs during the login process, it can be exploited to capture credentials from users who are attempting to authenticate, or to manipulate the forum's display to show malicious content to all visitors. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete compromise of user accounts within the FlatNuke environment. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-79 indicates it falls into the category of cross-site scripting flaws that allow attackers to inject client-side scripts into web applications, making it a significant threat to web application security.
Organizations utilizing FlatNuke 2.5.6 should immediately implement mitigation strategies including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data, particularly during authentication processes. The recommended approach involves implementing proper parameter sanitization techniques that escape special characters and validate input lengths to prevent script injection attempts. Security controls should include the implementation of Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities and regular monitoring of user input for suspicious patterns. Additionally, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines, particularly regarding input validation and output encoding. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for credential access, highlighting its potential for both code execution and unauthorized access to user accounts. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls and conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their web application infrastructure.