CVE-2005-3967 in Confluence
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the dosearchsite.action module in Atlassian Confluence 2.0.1 Build 321 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the searchQuery.queryString search module parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-3967 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Atlassian Confluence 2.0.1 build 321 that exposes the application to remote code execution risks through malicious web script injection. This vulnerability specifically targets the dosearchsite.action module, which serves as the primary search functionality interface for the Confluence platform. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input received through the searchQuery.queryString parameter, creating an avenue for attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. This particular implementation vulnerability demonstrates how insufficient input validation and output encoding can create persistent security risks in enterprise collaboration platforms where users frequently interact with search functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive authentication tokens, and manipulate user sessions within the Confluence environment. When exploited, the XSS vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users, potentially leading to complete compromise of the Confluence instance. Attackers can craft malicious search queries that, when executed by other users, would cause their browsers to execute the injected scripts, which could redirect them to malicious sites, steal cookies, or perform actions on behalf of the victim. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Confluence serves as a central collaboration platform for sensitive business information, as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to confidential documents, user credentials, and internal communication channels. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Phishing and T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables initial access through web-based attacks and provides a persistent execution vector within the target environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input sanitization and output encoding measures within the Confluence application. Organizations should implement proper parameter validation that filters or escapes special characters in search queries before processing them through the dosearchsite.action module. The recommended approach includes implementing Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, utilizing proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content, and ensuring that user input is validated against a strict whitelist of acceptable characters. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious search queries, while applying the latest security patches from Atlassian to address this known vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their Confluence instances to identify similar input validation weaknesses that could be exploited through other attack vectors, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of comprehensive security testing across all application modules. The remediation process should also include user education regarding the risks of clicking on suspicious links or executing unknown search queries, as social engineering remains a common initial attack vector for exploiting such vulnerabilities.