CVE-2005-4399 in Libertas Enterprise CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in search/index.php in Libertas Enterprise CMS 3.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the page_search parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-4399 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Libertas Enterprise CMS version 3.0 and earlier systems. This security weakness specifically affects the search functionality of the content management system, where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to web browsers. The vulnerability exists in the search/index.php script and can be exploited through manipulation of the page_search parameter, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code into the application's output.
This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws in web applications. The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in input validation and output encoding practices within the CMS framework. When users submit search queries through the page_search parameter, the application processes these inputs without adequate sanitization measures, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be executed within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw represents a critical security gap in the application's data flow processing, where untrusted input transitions directly into the application's response without proper security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code in the browser context of authenticated users. This could enable attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even deface the website content. The remote exploitation aspect means that attackers do not require local system access or physical presence to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments. The vulnerability affects the entire user base of the CMS, including administrators and regular users, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the entire web application ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective immediate fix involves sanitizing all user inputs, particularly those processed through the search functionality, by removing or encoding potentially dangerous characters such as angle brackets, script tags, and JavaScript protocols. Organizations should implement proper HTML escaping routines before rendering any user-supplied content in web responses, which aligns with the ATT&CK framework's defensive techniques for preventing code injection attacks. Additionally, the application should enforce a Content Security Policy that restricts script execution and limits the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application, while also ensuring that the CMS is updated to newer versions that address this and related security concerns. The remediation process should also include implementing proper error handling that prevents information leakage and establishing web application firewalls to monitor and filter malicious traffic patterns.