CVE-2005-4428 in Helpdesk
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in Cerberus Helpdesk allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the kb_ask parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2019
The CVE-2005-4428 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the Cerberus Helpdesk application's index.php script where the kb_ask parameter fails to properly sanitize user input. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically categorized as a reflected XSS attack vector. The flaw exists in the web application's input validation mechanisms, where unfiltered user-supplied data is directly incorporated into dynamically generated web pages without appropriate encoding or sanitization. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads in the kb_ask parameter that, when processed by the vulnerable application, get executed in the context of other users' browsers who visit the affected page.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code into the web application's response. When a victim accesses a page containing the maliciously crafted kb_ask parameter, the injected script executes in their browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects a core helpdesk functionality, making it accessible through normal user interactions with the application's knowledge base features. This XSS flaw operates at the application layer and can be leveraged to bypass standard security controls that rely on proper input validation.
The operational implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple script injection, as it can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the target environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially establish persistent access through session manipulation or use the compromised user context to escalate privileges within the helpdesk system. The vulnerability demonstrates poor secure coding practices and highlights the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications. Organizations using Cerberus Helpdesk would be at risk of having their users' browser sessions compromised, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive customer support data and internal communications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-4428 should focus on implementing proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The most effective immediate fix involves escaping or encoding any user-supplied input before incorporating it into web page content, particularly in dynamic parameters like kb_ask. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities and deploy web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious XSS payloads. Regular security code reviews and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The remediation process should align with NIST SP 800-53 security controls and follow OWASP Top 10 recommendations for preventing cross-site scripting attacks, ensuring that all user input is properly validated and that output is appropriately encoded based on the context where it is rendered.