CVE-2005-3636 in Web Application Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in SAP Web Application Server (WAS) 6.10 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via Error Pages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-3636 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within SAP Web Application Server version 6.10 that exposes organizations to significant security risks. This weakness specifically manifests in the error handling mechanisms of the web application server, where improperly sanitized input during error page generation creates opportunities for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the context of victim browsers. The vulnerability falls under the well-established CWE-79 category for cross-site scripting, which is consistently ranked among the top security concerns in web applications due to its potential for data theft, session hijacking, and privilege escalation. The attack vector leverages the server's response to malformed or unauthorized requests, where error messages containing unsanitized user input are rendered without proper HTML escaping or validation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers craft malicious requests that trigger error conditions within the SAP WAS 6.10 environment. When the server generates error pages to communicate these failures to users, it fails to adequately sanitize the input parameters that may have been included in the original request. This creates a scenario where attacker-controlled content becomes embedded within the error page HTML, allowing malicious scripts to execute in the context of legitimate users who view these pages. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable session fixation attacks, credential theft through cookie manipulation, and potentially full system compromise if users have administrative privileges. This vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting the web application layer where user input is processed.
Organizations running SAP Web Application Server 6.10 face substantial operational risks from this vulnerability, particularly in environments where sensitive data is processed or where user authentication occurs through web interfaces. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or prior authentication to the system. The impact on business operations includes potential data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and damage to organizational reputation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject malicious content that persists across multiple user sessions. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple user interactions makes it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where the SAP system likely serves as a critical component of business applications and data processing workflows.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-3636 should focus on immediate patching of affected SAP WAS 6.10 installations through official SAP security updates or service packs. Organizations must implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all web application components, particularly within error handling routines. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper HTML escaping for all user-supplied content forms essential defensive measures. Additionally, network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection while patches are deployed. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious error page content and unusual patterns in user request parameters that may indicate attempted exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their SAP infrastructure, as this vulnerability demonstrates the broader risk of inadequate input sanitization in web application frameworks. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches to ensure they do not introduce regressions in application functionality while maintaining the security improvements necessary to protect against this and related XSS vulnerabilities.