CVE-2005-3902 in Virtual Hosting Control System
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in gui/errordocs/index.php in Virtual Hosting Control System (VHCS) 2.2.0 through 2.4.6.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via query strings that are included in an error message, as demonstrated using a parameter containing script.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3902 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Virtual Hosting Control System version 2.2.0 through 2.4.6.2. This security weakness resides in the gui/errordocs/index.php component of the web hosting control platform, which serves as a crucial interface for managing virtual hosting environments. The vulnerability specifically targets the error handling mechanism of the system, where user-supplied input from query strings is not properly sanitized before being rendered in error messages displayed to end users. This design flaw creates an exploitable pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content directly into the error pages generated by the system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers craft malicious query strings containing script code that gets processed and displayed within the error documentation pages. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the VHCS error handling framework, where parameters are directly incorporated into error messages without proper sanitization. This behavior aligns with CWE-79, which classifies cross-site scripting as a weakness where applications fail to properly encode output, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts. The attack vector specifically leverages the parameter handling within the error documentation system, where the script code becomes executable within the context of a user's browser when they encounter an error page containing the malicious input.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. When users encounter error pages containing the injected scripts, their browsers execute the malicious code within the context of the vulnerable system, potentially compromising their sessions and exposing sensitive information. This vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in shared hosting environments where multiple users interact with the same control panel, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to access other users' accounts or manipulate the hosting environment. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering tactics involving malicious content delivery through web-based attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the VHCS error handling system. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied parameters are properly sanitized before being processed or displayed in error messages, utilizing proper HTML escaping techniques to prevent script execution. The most effective remediation involves updating to patched versions of VHCS 2.4.7 or later, where the input validation has been strengthened to prevent the injection of malicious code. Additionally, implementing proper content security policies and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities. Security practitioners should also consider implementing regular security assessments of web applications to identify and remediate similar input validation weaknesses that could lead to XSS exploitation in other components of the hosting infrastructure.