CVE-2005-3515 in Chipmunk Topsites
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in recommend.php in Chipmunk Topsites script allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the ID parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/15/2025
The CVE-2005-3515 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Chipmunk Topsites script's recommend.php component. This security weakness specifically targets the handling of user input through the ID parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected web applications. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web page content. The Chipmunk Topsites script, which typically functions as a web-based ranking system for websites, exposes this vulnerability when processing user requests that contain unvalidated ID parameters, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate the application's behavior and compromise user sessions or data integrity.
This XSS vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications. The attack vector leverages the fact that the recommend.php script does not adequately sanitize the ID parameter before rendering it within HTML output, creating an environment where malicious payloads can be injected and subsequently executed by unsuspecting users who visit the compromised pages. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection, as it can potentially enable session hijacking, credential theft, and the delivery of malicious content to users who interact with the compromised application. The flaw represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and input validation, where the application assumes that all incoming data is trustworthy without proper sanitization measures.
The operational implications of CVE-2005-3515 are significant for organizations utilizing the Chipmunk Topsites script, as it creates persistent security risks that can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring elevated privileges or specialized knowledge. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when executed, can steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject additional malicious code into the application's interface. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system or local network connectivity, making it particularly dangerous in publicly accessible web applications. This weakness can lead to unauthorized access to user accounts, data breaches, and potential compromise of the entire web application infrastructure, as the injected scripts can manipulate the application's behavior and potentially access sensitive backend resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-3515 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data flow. The most effective remediation involves sanitizing all user input parameters, particularly those used in dynamic content generation, by applying proper HTML entity encoding before rendering any user-supplied data within web pages. Organizations should implement strict parameter validation that rejects or filters out potentially malicious input patterns, including script tags, javascript protocols, and other suspicious payload constructs. Additionally, the application should employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution sources and prevent unauthorized code injection. The implementation of proper input sanitization techniques aligns with the ATT&CK framework's mitigation strategies for web application vulnerabilities, specifically addressing techniques related to script injection and credential access. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar cross-site scripting threats that may exist in other parts of the web application ecosystem.