CVE-2005-4379 in Bitweaver
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Bitweaver 1.1 and 1.1.1 beta allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) sort_mode parameter to (a) fisheye/list_galleries.php, (b) messages/message_box.php, and (c) users/my.php; the (2) post_id parameter to (d) blogs/view_post.php; the (3) blog_id parameter to (e) blogs/view.php; and the (4) search field to (f) users/my_groups.php.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4379 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Bitweaver content management systems version 1.1 and 1.1.1 beta releases. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability manifests across multiple endpoints within the Bitweaver framework, specifically targeting parameter handling in several key modules including fisheye/list_galleries.php, messages/message_box.php, users/my.php, blogs/view_post.php, blogs/view.php, and users/my_groups.php. These endpoints are particularly susceptible because they fail to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamic web content, creating multiple attack vectors for malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the Bitweaver application codebase. Attackers can exploit these flaws by crafting malicious payloads in specific parameters such as sort_mode, post_id, blog_id, and search fields, which are then processed and reflected back to users without proper sanitization. When users access these compromised pages, their browsers execute the injected malicious scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The attack vectors are particularly dangerous because they target core functionality modules including gallery listings, messaging systems, user profiles, and blog viewing interfaces, which are frequently accessed by legitimate users. This widespread impact across multiple modules indicates a systemic lack of secure coding practices in the application's input handling mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling sophisticated attacks such as session fixation, credential harvesting, and user impersonation. Attackers could leverage these vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to user accounts, manipulate content, or redirect users to phishing sites that could harvest sensitive information. The vulnerability affects both the administrative and user-facing portions of the application, meaning that even standard users could be compromised through these attack vectors. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that these vulnerabilities exist in modules that are commonly used and frequently accessed, increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation. Organizations using Bitweaver 1.1 or 1.1.1 beta systems face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential data breaches, particularly in environments where user-generated content is prevalent.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding across all affected modules. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input before processing or rendering, particularly for parameters like sort_mode, post_id, blog_id, and search fields that are vulnerable to injection attacks. Security measures should include implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all dynamic content, establishing robust input validation routines, and applying the principle of least privilege in parameter handling. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, while regular security audits should verify that all user inputs are properly sanitized. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and adherence to web application security standards, particularly in systems handling user-generated content where input validation becomes critical for maintaining application integrity and user security. Updates to the Bitweaver framework should be prioritized to address these vulnerabilities, as the affected versions are no longer supported and lack security patches.