CVE-2005-4328 in webglimpse
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in webglimpse.cgi in Webglimpse 2.14.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the ID parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4328 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the Webglimpse web application version 2.14.1 and earlier. This security weakness resides within the webglimpse.cgi script which fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into web page responses. The specific parameter affected is the ID parameter, which serves as an entry point for malicious actors to inject harmful script code into the application's output. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in software applications. The flaw enables attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.
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 the vulnerable web application processes this input and renders it in the browser without proper sanitization or encoding, the injected script executes in the victim's browser context. This can result in various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web pages, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to bypass normal security controls since the malicious code originates from what appears to be a legitimate application response. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as those categorized under the ATT&CK framework's T1059.001 technique for command and scripting interpreter.
The operational impact of this vulnerability significantly affects organizations using Webglimpse 2.14.1 or earlier versions, as it creates a persistent security risk that can be exploited by anyone with access to the vulnerable application. Users who interact with the web application become potential victims of phishing attacks, session theft, or data manipulation. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or network, making it particularly dangerous for web-facing applications. Organizations may experience reputational damage, regulatory compliance issues, and potential financial losses due to successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor input validation practices in the application's codebase, indicating broader security weaknesses that may exist in other parts of the software. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of a larger assessment of the application's overall security posture, particularly focusing on input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-4328 primarily involve immediate application updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability, as well as implementing proper input validation and output encoding techniques. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied input, particularly parameters like ID, are properly sanitized before being processed or displayed in web responses. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script injection attacks. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping web applications updated with the latest security patches, as this issue was likely resolved in subsequent versions of Webglimpse. Organizations should establish robust security practices including secure coding guidelines that prevent such vulnerabilities from being introduced into applications during development phases. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that input validation measures do not break legitimate application functionality while effectively preventing malicious script injection attempts.