CVE-2005-3908 in Amazon Shop
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in search.php in GhostScripter Amazon Shop 5.0.0, and other versions before 5.0.2, allows remote attackers to inject web script or HTML via the query parameter.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3908 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the GhostScripter Amazon Shop software version 5.0.0 and earlier releases. This security weakness resides in the search.php script which fails to properly sanitize user input before processing search queries. The vulnerability specifically affects the query parameter handling mechanism, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code into the application's response. Such an oversight creates a persistent security risk where attackers can exploit the flaw to execute malicious code within the context of other users' browsers who interact with the vulnerable application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting as a weakness where applications fail to properly validate or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. This particular flaw operates at the input validation layer where the search.php script does not implement adequate sanitization measures for the query parameter. The vulnerability enables attackers to craft malicious payloads that, when executed, can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or defacing the application interface. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication and can be exploited through simple web requests containing malicious script code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. Attackers can use this flaw to establish persistent sessions within the application, potentially gaining unauthorized access to user accounts or administrative functions. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete compromise of user sessions and unauthorized data manipulation. Additionally, the affected application's user base becomes vulnerable to phishing attacks where malicious scripts can capture sensitive information or redirect users to fraudulent websites. The long-term implications include potential reputational damage and regulatory compliance issues for organizations using vulnerable versions of the software.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-3908 should prioritize immediate implementation of the vendor-provided patch version 5.0.2 which addresses the input sanitization issues in the search.php script. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms that filter or escape all user-supplied data before processing, particularly focusing on the query parameter handling. The security controls should include output encoding for all dynamic content and the implementation of Content Security Policy headers to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, following the principle of least privilege and secure coding practices. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping software components updated and implementing proper security monitoring to detect exploitation attempts. Organizations should consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools to identify similar XSS vulnerabilities across their application portfolio and establish secure coding guidelines that align with industry standards such as those defined in the OWASP Top Ten project.