CVE-2005-4256 in XM Forum
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in forum.asp in ASP-DEV XM Forum RC3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the forum_title parameter. NOTE: the provenance of this issue is unknown; the details are obtained solely from the BID. In addition, its accuracy is in question because "forum_title" does not appear to be specified in the source code for XM Forum RC3. It is possible, but not certain, that this is CVE-2004-2211.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-4256 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the ASP-DEV XM Forum RC3 web application. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security weaknesses. The vulnerability specifically affects the forum.asp component where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to web browsers, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of other users' sessions.
The technical mechanism of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of the forum_title parameter within the web application's input processing pipeline. When an attacker submits malicious content through this parameter, the application fails to validate or escape the input before incorporating it into dynamic web page content. This allows attackers to inject HTML tags and JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser when they view the affected forum page. The vulnerability's classification as remote indicates that no local access or authentication is required for exploitation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged from any location with internet access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. An attacker could craft malicious forum titles that, when viewed by other users, would execute scripts designed to steal cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or modify the forum's content. This type of vulnerability particularly threatens community-based web applications where user-generated content is displayed without proper sanitization, as it can compromise the entire user base that interacts with the platform.
The uncertainty surrounding the vulnerability's provenance and the discrepancy between the reported parameter name and the actual source code presents challenges for security professionals attempting to assess and remediate the issue. This ambiguity suggests potential issues with vulnerability reporting accuracy or that the vulnerability may have been misclassified during initial discovery. Security practitioners should conduct thorough source code analysis to confirm the exact parameters and code paths involved in the vulnerability, as the mismatch between reported and actual code elements can lead to ineffective patching or remediation efforts. Organizations should also consider implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all user-facing parameters to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding techniques. Security measures must include sanitizing all user inputs before processing, implementing strict content type validation, and ensuring that any dynamic content generated from user data undergoes appropriate HTML escaping. Organizations should also consider adopting secure coding practices that align with industry standards such as the OWASP Secure Coding Practices and the CERT Secure Coding Standards. Additionally, regular security testing including dynamic and static analysis should be implemented to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.