CVE-2005-4167 in eFiction
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in eFiction 1.0 and 1.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the let parameter in a viewlist action to titles.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4167 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw affecting the eFiction content management system version 1.0 and 1.1. This security weakness resides within the application's handling of user input through the let parameter in the viewlist action of the titles.php script, creating a persistent vector for malicious code injection. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a direct descendant of the well-known web application security weakness category that has plagued numerous systems throughout the years.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script code within the let parameter and submits it to the titles.php script with the viewlist action. The application fails to properly sanitize or encode this input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages, allowing the injected malicious code to execute within the context of other users' browsers. This flaw enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and defacement of the affected website. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the user-facing interface level, requiring no special privileges or authentication to exploit, making it a prime target for automated attack tools.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can fundamentally compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the affected web application. When exploited, the XSS vulnerability allows attackers to establish persistent malicious presence within the application environment, potentially enabling them to manipulate user sessions, redirect victims to malicious sites, or inject additional malicious payloads that could escalate to more serious attacks. The affected eFiction system, being a content management platform, becomes a vector for spreading malicious content to all users who interact with the compromised application, creating a widespread potential for damage across the entire user base. This vulnerability also aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for phishing and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage the XSS to establish further attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The primary fix involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly parameters like the let parameter in this case, before incorporating them into dynamic web page content. This approach aligns with the principle of defense in depth and follows secure coding practices recommended by organizations such as OWASP. The solution requires modifying the titles.php script to properly escape or filter any special characters in the let parameter, ensuring that potentially dangerous script code cannot be executed. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security testing to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their entire application portfolio.