CVE-2005-4476 in OpenEdit
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in store/search/results.html in OpenEdit 4.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) oe-action and (2) page parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4476 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the OpenEdit content management system version 4.0 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the store/search/results.html component and affects the system's ability to properly sanitize user input parameters. The flaw specifically impacts two parameter fields: oe-action and page, which are processed without adequate input validation or output encoding mechanisms. This vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, making it susceptible to malicious script injection attacks that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers manipulate the oe-action and page parameters in the search results URL structure. When these parameters contain malicious JavaScript code or HTML content, the application fails to properly escape or validate the input before rendering it in the web page context. This creates an environment where attackers can inject arbitrary scripts that execute in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic input validation failure where the system trusts user-supplied data without proper sanitization, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking attacks and potentially escalate privileges within the application. Users who access search results pages with manipulated parameters may unknowingly execute malicious code that can capture their session cookies, redirect them to phishing sites, or modify application behavior. The vulnerability affects the entire OpenEdit user base, particularly those who engage with search functionality, and can be exploited through various attack vectors including social engineering, where users are tricked into clicking malicious links. The attack surface is broad as search functionality is typically accessible to all users, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for public-facing applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-4476 require immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding measures. Organizations should implement strict parameter validation for all user-supplied input, particularly in search functionality, and ensure that all dynamic content is properly escaped before rendering in web pages. The recommended approach includes implementing a whitelist-based validation system for the oe-action and page parameters, combined with proper HTML encoding of all output data. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other application components. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of keeping OpenEdit systems updated to newer versions where such security flaws have been addressed, following the principle of least privilege and secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP secure coding guidelines and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.