CVE-2005-4277 in toendaCMS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in toendaCMS before 0.7 Beta allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2018
The CVE-2005-4277 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the toendaCMS content management system prior to version 0.7 Beta. This vulnerability exists within the index.php script where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to web browsers. The specific weakness lies in how the application processes the id parameter, which serves as an entry point for malicious actors to inject harmful script code into the web application's response. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that enables attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within the id parameter and delivers it to unsuspecting users. When victims click on the malicious link, their browsers execute the injected script within the legitimate toendaCMS environment, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and output encoding practices that are commonly found in legacy web applications. According to ATT&CK framework, this represents a technique categorized under T1566.001 Valid Accounts and T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, as it leverages user trust to execute malicious code. The impact extends beyond simple script execution to potentially compromise user sessions and enable further attacks within the application's context.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are significant for any organization using affected versions of toendaCMS. Users who visit malicious links could have their browser sessions compromised, leading to unauthorized access to their accounts and potentially the entire content management system. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal cookies, modify content, or redirect users to phishing sites that appear legitimate. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the web application, as it allows unauthorized code execution in the context of authenticated users. Organizations running vulnerable versions face increased risk of data breaches and potential regulatory compliance violations, particularly in environments where user data protection is paramount. Security teams must prioritize patching this vulnerability to prevent exploitation, as the attack surface is relatively broad due to the nature of web scripting vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-4277 involve immediate patching of the toendaCMS application to version 0.7 Beta or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Additionally, organizations should implement proper input sanitization techniques, including HTML encoding of all user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. The application should employ Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities and prevent unauthorized code injection. Regular security audits and web application firewalls should be deployed to detect and block malicious requests targeting similar vulnerabilities. Input validation should be enforced at multiple layers of the application, including server-side validation to ensure that all parameters are properly sanitized before being processed. Organizations should also conduct regular security training for developers to prevent similar issues in future application development cycles and implement secure coding practices that align with OWASP Top Ten security guidelines.