CVE-2005-4292 in CommerceSQL
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in CommerceSQL 1.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified search module parameters, possibly the keywords parameter in the Quick Find feature.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2018
The CVE-2005-4292 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that affected CommerceSQL version 1.0 and earlier systems, demonstrating the critical importance of input validation in web applications. This vulnerability specifically targeted the search module functionality, particularly the Quick Find feature that utilized a keywords parameter, creating an exploitable pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's response. The vulnerability's presence in the search module highlights how seemingly benign features can become attack vectors when proper sanitization measures are absent from the application's input handling processes.
The technical exploitation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when user-supplied input containing malicious scripts is processed through the CommerceSQL search functionality without adequate validation or encoding. Attackers can craft specially formatted search queries containing script tags or other malicious payloads that get executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view the search results. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which specifically addresses the injection of executable code into web applications. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack vector means that malicious actors can exploit it without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in web-based environments where users interact with the application through standard web browsers.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-4292 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks such as session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. When attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability, they can execute arbitrary code within the victim's browser context, potentially gaining access to sensitive session cookies, personal information, or even performing actions on behalf of authenticated users. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that search functionality is typically one of the most accessed features in web applications, meaning that a successful exploitation could affect numerous users simultaneously. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which describes the use of malicious content to gain initial access to systems, demonstrating how XSS vulnerabilities can serve as entry points for more comprehensive attacks.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and the implementation of Content Security Policies to prevent script execution in web responses. The most effective remediation strategies involve sanitizing all user inputs before processing them through the search module, implementing proper HTML encoding for output display, and utilizing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should focus on all input handling mechanisms to identify potential XSS vulnerabilities in similar application components. The vulnerability's age and classification as a well-known weakness in web applications underscore the importance of maintaining current security practices and ensuring that legacy systems receive appropriate updates or replacements to prevent exploitation by modern attack vectors.