CVE-2005-4307 in ScareCrow
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in ScareCrow 2.13 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the forum parameter to (1) forum.cgi and (2) post.cgi, or (3) the user parameter to profile.cgi.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4307 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in ScareCrow versions 2.13 and earlier, specifically affecting web applications that handle user input through CGI scripts. This vulnerability resides within the input validation mechanisms of the application's forum and user profile components, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw manifests when user-supplied data is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered back to web clients, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that can be executed in the victim's browser environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through three distinct attack vectors that target different CGI scripts within the ScareCrow application. The primary attack vectors involve the forum parameter in forum.cgi and post.cgi scripts, where user input is directly incorporated into dynamic web content without adequate sanitization. Additionally, the vulnerability extends to the user parameter in profile.cgi, where similar injection opportunities exist. These scripts process user-provided data and render it within HTML contexts, creating opportunities for attackers to embed malicious JavaScript code, HTML tags, or other harmful content that gets executed when other users view the affected pages. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, where improper validation of input leads to execution of untrusted code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables remote attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web content, and redirection to malicious sites. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to steal session cookies from authenticated users, potentially gaining unauthorized access to their accounts. The vulnerability also allows for the execution of malicious scripts that can modify content, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of the victim within the application context. This type of vulnerability undermines the fundamental security model of web applications by allowing attackers to bypass the normal access controls and execute code within the user's browser environment, effectively compromising the trust relationship between the application and its users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input by removing or encoding potentially dangerous characters such as angle brackets, quotes, and script tags before processing or rendering the data. Implementing proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content ensures that any malicious scripts are rendered harmless when displayed to users. Additionally, developers should implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to prevent the execution of unauthorized scripts, and utilize parameterized queries or prepared statements where applicable. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, while maintaining regular security updates and patches for all web applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding as fundamental security practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for phishing, which are commonly employed when exploiting XSS vulnerabilities to compromise user sessions and execute malicious code in web environments.