CVE-2005-4299 in Atlant Pro
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in atl.cgi in Atlant Pro 4.02 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) before and (2) ct parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4299 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Atlant Pro 4.02 content management system and web application framework. This vulnerability specifically affects the atl.cgi script which serves as a core component in the application's functionality, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking to exploit web application security weaknesses. The flaw exists in the parameter handling mechanisms of this script, where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or validated before being processed and returned to web browsers. The vulnerability manifests through two distinct parameter vectors namely the 'before' and 'ct' parameters, both of which can be manipulated by remote attackers to inject malicious code.
This cross-site scripting vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which defines the weakness as the failure to sanitize user input before it is embedded into web pages viewed by other users. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of a victim's browser session. When an attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or other HTML elements and submits it through either the before or ct parameters, the vulnerable application processes this input without adequate validation, subsequently delivering the malicious code to unsuspecting users who access the affected pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious websites. Users who visit web pages containing the vulnerable atl.cgi script become unwitting participants in the attack chain, as their browsers execute the injected scripts with the privileges of their current session. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where authenticated users interact with the application, as attackers could potentially escalate their privileges or access sensitive information. The vulnerability also affects the application's integrity and trust model, as legitimate users may be deceived into believing they are interacting with a secure and authentic web application.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Atlant Pro application. The primary remediation approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through strict validation and encoding processes before processing or storing any data. Organizations should implement proper parameter validation for both the before and ct parameters, ensuring that any potentially malicious content is either rejected or properly escaped before being rendered in web responses. Additionally, implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed. The application should also be updated to a newer version of Atlant Pro that addresses this vulnerability, as version 4.03 and later releases would contain the necessary security patches and improvements to prevent such injection attacks. Security monitoring and regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other application components, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input handling in web applications.