CVE-2005-3530 in Antville
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Antville 1.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the notfound.skin error document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3530 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Antville 1.1 content management system that exposes users to significant security risks. This issue manifests specifically through the notfound.skin error document, which serves as a critical component in handling failed URL requests or missing pages within the application. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code directly into this error handling mechanism, creating a persistent vector for exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the Antville application's error handling routines. When the system encounters a missing or invalid resource, it renders the notfound.skin template to display an error message to users. However, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input that gets incorporated into this error document, creating an environment where attacker-controlled data can be executed within the context of legitimate user sessions. This represents a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture, particularly concerning how it processes and renders dynamic content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, or manipulate the application's behavior. When users encounter the error page, their browsers execute the malicious scripts embedded within the notfound.skin document, potentially leading to session theft, credential harvesting, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the context of the legitimate application, making it difficult for users to distinguish between legitimate error messages and malicious content. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates how improper handling of user input can create persistent attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding measures within the Antville application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input that gets rendered in the error document, ensuring that any potentially malicious content is properly escaped or removed before display. Organizations should also implement proper content security policies and consider using web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads targeting this specific vulnerability. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should focus on error handling routines to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. The remediation process must address the root cause by implementing proper sanitization mechanisms that align with industry best practices for preventing XSS attacks, as outlined in various security frameworks including those referenced by the ATT&CK framework for web application vulnerabilities.