CVE-2005-4483 in SiteEnable
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in login.asp in SiteEnable 3.3 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the ret_page parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4483 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the SiteEnable web application version 3.3 and earlier. This issue specifically targets the login.asp component where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being processed and returned to the browser. The vulnerability exists in the handling of the ret_page parameter which is typically used to redirect users after successful authentication back to their originally requested page. When an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within the ret_page parameter and tricks a victim into clicking it, the application fails to properly escape or encode the input before rendering it in the subsequent page response.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows the standard XSS attack pattern where malicious script code is injected through the vulnerable parameter and executed within the victim's browser context. The flaw falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 which describes the use of web application vulnerabilities for malicious code execution. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it occurs during the authentication process where users are likely to be logged in or in a trusted state, making the potential impact more severe.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even modify the content of the login page itself. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to create persistent malicious redirects that would continuously compromise users who access the application. The vulnerability affects all users of SiteEnable 3.3 and earlier versions, making it a widespread concern for organizations that have not upgraded their systems. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it requires minimal user interaction beyond clicking a malicious link, and the vulnerability exists in the core authentication flow where users expect maximum security.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must include immediate patching of SiteEnable to version 3.4 or later where the issue has been resolved through proper input validation and output encoding. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures that validate all user-supplied data, particularly parameters used in redirection logic. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting script execution within the application context. Regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Network segmentation and monitoring of suspicious traffic patterns can help detect exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of clicking untrusted links and the importance of verifying URLs before authentication can provide defense-in-depth protection against social engineering aspects of this attack vector. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in authentication flows and highlights the necessity of implementing secure coding practices throughout the entire application development lifecycle.