CVE-2005-3403 in ATutor
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in ATutor 1.4.1 through 1.5.1-pl1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the _base_href parameter in translate.php, (2) the _base_path parameter in news.inc.php, and (3) the p parameter in add_note.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3403 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting ATutor learning management systems version 1.4.1 through 1.5.1-pl1. This vulnerability category falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting attacks where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web page content without proper validation or sanitization. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or malicious content injection. The vulnerability manifests through three distinct entry points within the application's codebase, each representing a separate vector for exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through three specific parameters that fail to properly sanitize user input before being rendered in web pages. The first vulnerability exists in the translate.php file where the _base_href parameter is not adequately validated, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts through URL manipulation. The second vulnerability is present in news.inc.php where the _base_path parameter lacks proper input sanitization, creating an opportunity for script injection. The third vector occurs in add_note.php where the p parameter fails to validate or escape user-provided content before display. These three parameters represent different attack surfaces within the ATutor application's functionality, with each serving distinct purposes in the system's operation. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate output encoding mechanisms that are fundamental requirements in secure web application development.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-3403 extends beyond simple script injection, as successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of user sessions and potential data breaches. Attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users, potentially gaining access to sensitive course materials, user information, or administrative functions. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of ATutor's translation, news display, and note-taking features, making it particularly dangerous as these are commonly used components of the learning management system. Users who visit compromised pages or interact with maliciously crafted content could unknowingly execute attacker-controlled code, leading to persistent infections and potential lateral movement within the network. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of educational data, potentially exposing student records, course content, and institutional information to unauthorized parties.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-3403 should focus on immediate input validation and output encoding implementations across all affected parameters. The primary remediation involves implementing strict validation of all user-supplied input through regular expressions, length restrictions, and character set validation before any data is processed or displayed. Output encoding should be applied to all dynamic content using HTML entity encoding, JavaScript escaping, and URL encoding techniques to prevent script execution. Organizations should implement comprehensive web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities and establish secure coding practices that align with OWASP Top Ten recommendations. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security audits and code reviews to identify similar input validation flaws. System administrators should ensure that all ATutor installations are updated to patched versions, and that proper access controls are implemented to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in preventing web application attacks, with implications that extend to broader cybersecurity practices and compliance requirements.