CVE-2005-4191 in Nag Task List Manager H3
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in templates/tasklists/tasklists.inc in Horde Nag Task List Manager H3 before 2.0.4 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the tasklist s name or (2) description, when creating a new tasklist.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4191 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within the Horde Nag Task List Manager H3 software version prior to 2.0.4. This issue resides in the templates/tasklists/tasklists.inc component and affects the authentication process by allowing malicious actors to inject harmful web scripts or HTML code. The vulnerability specifically targets the tasklist creation functionality where users can input data that gets processed without adequate sanitization, creating a persistent security risk for the application's users.
The technical flaw manifests when authenticated users attempt to create new tasklists within the Horde Nag system, as the application fails to properly validate or escape user-supplied input data. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious scripts into either the tasklist name field or the description field during the creation process. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a security weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or escaping, allowing attackers to execute scripts in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability operates under the principle that user input is inherently untrustworthy and must be rigorously sanitized before being rendered in web interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code within the context of authenticated users' browsers. This creates a significant risk for organizations using Horde Nag, as compromised users could have their session cookies stolen, their personal data accessed, or they could be redirected to malicious websites. The authenticated nature of the vulnerability means that attackers need only have valid login credentials to exploit this weakness, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user accounts are not properly secured or monitored. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which describes the use of malicious code injection to compromise systems and maintain persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-4191 require immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding measures within the affected Horde Nag application. Organizations should upgrade to version 2.0.4 or later where the vulnerability has been patched, as this represents the most effective solution to address the root cause. Additionally, implementing proper HTML escaping for all user-supplied data before rendering in web pages will prevent malicious scripts from executing. Security measures should include regular input validation checks, content security policies to prevent script execution, and comprehensive security testing of web applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to OWASP Top Ten security guidelines, particularly those addressing input validation and output encoding to prevent XSS attacks. System administrators should also implement monitoring and logging of user activities to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all web applications receive regular security updates and patches to address known vulnerabilities.