CVE-2005-4435 in D-Man
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php AbleDesign D-Man 3.x allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the title parameter. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/07/2025
The CVE-2005-4435 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the AbleDesign D-Man 3.x content management system where the index.php script fails to properly sanitize user input. This vulnerability specifically targets the title parameter, which serves as an entry point for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code into the application's response. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's processing pipeline, creating a persistent security weakness that affects the integrity of user interactions and data handling. The vulnerability's classification as a client-side attack vector means that successful exploitation can compromise user sessions and potentially lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information or system resources.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. This weakness occurs when web applications fail to properly validate or encode user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content. The attack vector operates through the manipulation of the title parameter in the index.php script, where unfiltered input allows malicious payloads to be executed within the browser context of other users. This type of vulnerability typically enables attackers to perform session hijacking, deface websites, steal cookies, or redirect users to malicious domains. The exploitation process involves crafting specially formatted input that bypasses existing security controls and gets rendered as executable code in the victim's browser environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it represents a significant threat to user security and application integrity. When exploited, the XSS vulnerability can compromise user sessions and enable attackers to perform actions on behalf of legitimate users without their knowledge. This threat is particularly concerning in content management systems where users may have elevated privileges or access to sensitive data. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system and can exploit it from anywhere on the internet, making it a persistent threat that can affect multiple users simultaneously. The potential for cascading effects exists when compromised user sessions lead to further unauthorized access within the application or related systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-4435 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly parameters like title, before processing or displaying them within web pages. This approach aligns with the ATT&CK framework's defense in depth principles, specifically targeting the execution and persistence phases where malicious code injection occurs. Organizations should implement proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content and consider using Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The remediation process requires updating the AbleDesign D-Man 3.x software to a patched version or implementing proper input filtering mechanisms that prevent malicious payloads from being executed, ensuring that all user-supplied data undergoes thorough validation before being incorporated into web responses.