CVE-2005-4480 in Plexcor CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Plexcor CMS 4.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified search parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4480 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Plexcor CMS version 4.0 and earlier systems. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of search parameters, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions. The vulnerability's classification as a persistent XSS flaw indicates that malicious content can be stored and subsequently executed whenever users access the compromised search functionality, making it particularly dangerous for content management systems that handle user-generated content or search queries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Plexcor CMS search functionality. When users submit search queries, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This fundamental flaw in data handling allows attackers to inject malicious payloads through search parameters, which are then rendered to other users without proper sanitization. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can potentially enable session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites, particularly when the CMS serves as a platform for user interaction or content sharing.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations utilizing Plexcor CMS versions 4.0 or earlier, as it allows attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or system functionalities. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur without requiring physical access to the system or prior authentication, making it particularly attractive to threat actors. The vulnerability's presence in a content management system amplifies its impact, as CMS platforms often contain sensitive administrative interfaces, user data, and business-critical information that can be accessed through successful XSS exploitation. This type of vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the risks associated with insufficient input validation and improper output encoding.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1566.001 for spearphishing with malicious attachments and T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage the XSS flaw to establish persistent access through malicious scripts that execute in user browsers. Organizations should consider implementing comprehensive input validation measures, including strict parameter filtering and output encoding for all search parameters. The mitigation strategy must encompass immediate patching of affected systems, implementation of proper content security policies, and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. Additionally, organizations should establish robust web application firewall rules to detect and block suspicious search parameter patterns that could indicate XSS attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and implementing defense-in-depth strategies, as the flaw represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's security architecture that could be exploited to compromise entire user bases through the execution of malicious scripts within legitimate web sessions.