CVE-2005-3867 in RevenuePilot Search Engine Script
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in RevenuePilot Search Engine Script 1.2.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the REQ parameter, which is used when performing a search.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3867 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the RevenuePilot Search Engine Script version 1.2.0 and earlier. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of web application security weaknesses that have been consistently documented in industry standards including CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into web responses, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation occurs through the REQ parameter which serves as the primary input mechanism for search functionality within the RevenuePilot script. When users submit search queries, the application processes the REQ parameter without adequate validation or sanitization measures, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads directly into the search interface. This injection point represents a critical weakness in the application's input handling architecture and demonstrates poor secure coding practices that have been widely recognized as dangerous patterns in web development security guidelines.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to establish persistent malicious presence within the application environment. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject content that appears legitimate to end users. The vulnerability's remote nature means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that serve a wide user base. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering attacks through malicious web content.
The remediation approach for CVE-2005-3867 requires immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Applications must sanitize all user-supplied input through whitelisting validation techniques or comprehensive HTML escaping before incorporating any data into web responses. The fix should involve updating the RevenuePilot Search Engine Script to version 1.2.1 or later, as this vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases. Security practitioners should also implement content security policies and regularly conduct security assessments to identify similar input handling vulnerabilities. This vulnerability serves as a prime example of why organizations must maintain current software versions and implement robust input validation as fundamental security controls against web-based attacks.