CVE-2005-4063 in NetAuctionHelp
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in NetAuctionHelp 3.0 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and web script via the (1) L, (2) sort, (3) category, (4) categoryname parameters to search.asp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4063 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting NetAuctionHelp version 3.0 and earlier systems. This flaw resides within the search.asp script which fails to properly sanitize user input parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary HTML and web scripts within the context of authenticated user sessions. The vulnerability specifically impacts four distinct parameters including L, sort, category, and categoryname, all of which are processed without adequate input validation or output encoding mechanisms.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability manifests as a classic reflected cross-site scripting flaw where attacker-controlled data flows directly from the user input through the application's processing logic and back to the user's browser without proper sanitization. The affected parameters are all passed through the search.asp endpoint, making them potential injection points for malicious payloads that can execute within the victim's browser context. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting conditions where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages served to users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform various malicious activities including credential theft, defacement of auction listings, manipulation of search results, and potentially redirect users to phishing sites. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that successful exploitation requires social engineering to entice victims to click on malicious links containing crafted payloads. This makes the attack vector particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently interact with auction platforms and may be less vigilant about suspicious links.
According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1531 (Run-time Application Prototyping) and T1566 (Phishing) techniques, as it enables attackers to create malicious web content that can be delivered to victims through social engineering campaigns. The vulnerability also aligns with T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) and T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) as it represents an exploitable entry point through web application interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms for all user-supplied parameters before they are processed or displayed. This includes sanitizing the L, sort, category, and categoryname parameters through strict validation rules that reject or encode potentially dangerous characters and script tags. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. The affected system should also undergo comprehensive code review to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other application components, ensuring that all user inputs are properly handled before being incorporated into web responses.