CVE-2005-4028 in aMember
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in aMember allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) lamember_login parameter to sendpass.php and (2) login parameter to member.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4028 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the aMember web application platform, which is widely used for membership management and subscription services. This vulnerability affects the core authentication mechanisms of the system, specifically targeting two distinct entry points that handle user login parameters. The flaw exists in the way the application processes user input without proper sanitization or output encoding, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's response.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the aMember codebase. The first vulnerable parameter, lamember_login in the sendpass.php script, and the second vulnerable parameter, login in the member.php script, both receive user-provided input that flows directly into the application's response without proper sanitization. This creates a classic XSS attack vector where an attacker can craft malicious payloads that, when executed in a victim's browser, can perform unauthorized actions or steal sensitive information. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with potential access to user sessions and sensitive data within the membership system. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities to steal user credentials, manipulate membership status, or redirect users to malicious websites. The attack surface is particularly concerning because these parameters are part of core authentication flows, meaning that successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to member accounts and potentially the entire membership database. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1531 Access Token Manipulation and T1071.001 Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, as it involves manipulation of web application responses and session handling mechanisms.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical expertise and can be accomplished through standard web application penetration testing techniques. Attackers would need to craft malicious URLs containing script tags or other HTML content that would be executed in the context of legitimate user sessions. The vulnerability affects the entire user base of aMember installations, making it a significant security risk for organizations relying on this platform for membership management. The lack of proper input validation in these critical authentication parameters creates a persistent threat that could be exploited repeatedly until patched. Organizations using aMember should immediately implement security mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and regular security assessments to protect against this and similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper web application security practices and the potential consequences of inadequate input sanitization in authentication systems.