CVE-2005-4000 in word
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in archive.asp in SiteBeater News System 4.00 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the sKeywords parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2024
The CVE-2005-4000 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the SiteBeater News System version 4.00 and earlier, demonstrating a critical weakness in input validation and output encoding practices. This vulnerability specifically affects the archive.asp component of the news system, where user-supplied input through the sKeywords parameter is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious scripts or HTML code that executes in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input filtering mechanisms within the SiteBeater News System's archive.asp script. When the sKeywords parameter is processed, the application fails to validate or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This creates an environment where attackers can embed malicious payloads such as javascript:alert(document.cookie) or more sophisticated attack vectors that leverage the trust relationship between the web application and its users. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious input is immediately reflected back in the application's response without proper sanitization. According to CWE-79, this represents a weakness in the application's failure to properly encode output, making it susceptible to injection attacks that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can be leveraged to create a wide range of security incidents within the SiteBeater News System environment. Attackers can exploit this flaw to steal user authentication cookies, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even modify content displayed to other users. The vulnerability particularly affects the system's ability to maintain user trust and data confidentiality, as legitimate users may unknowingly execute malicious code when viewing pages that contain the injected content. This weakness can be exploited by attackers who gain access to the system through social engineering or by targeting vulnerable websites that host the affected news system, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on legacy web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-4000 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the SiteBeater News System. Organizations should immediately upgrade to versions that address this vulnerability or implement proper parameter sanitization techniques such as HTML entity encoding for all user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages. The solution should include implementing a whitelist-based approach for acceptable input characters and ensuring that all dynamic content is properly escaped according to the context where it will be displayed. Security measures should also incorporate regular security assessments and input validation testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the system. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes the use of malicious content to gain initial access or execute code, and the remediation efforts should align with security best practices outlined in OWASP's XSS prevention guidelines. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies and regular security training for developers to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future applications.