CVE-2005-4487 in R1 Cms
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in RAMSite R|1 CMS 1.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the searchfield parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4487 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the RAMSite R|1 Content Management System version 1.0 and earlier. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting conditions where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without adequate validation or sanitization. The vulnerability exists in the search functionality of the CMS, specifically in how the application processes the searchfield parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's response.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious input string containing script tags or other HTML elements and submits it through the searchfield parameter. The CMS fails to properly sanitize or encode this input before rendering it within the web page context, allowing the injected code to execute in the browser of any user who views the search results page. This creates a persistent threat vector where attackers can potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, depending on the privileges of the affected users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. Given that CMS platforms typically serve as central repositories for website content and user management, an attacker who successfully exploits this XSS vulnerability can potentially escalate their attack to compromise the entire website infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the availability and integrity of the web application, as malicious scripts can modify page content, redirect traffic, or establish persistent backdoors. The attack surface is particularly concerning in environments where the CMS handles sensitive user data or administrative functions, as the vulnerability could enable privilege escalation or unauthorized access to backend systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-4487 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user inputs, particularly those used in dynamic content generation, through the application of context-appropriate encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding for web page contexts. Organizations should implement a comprehensive security patching strategy to upgrade to RAMSite R|1 CMS versions that address this vulnerability, while also deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts. Additionally, the principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting the execution context of user-supplied data and implementing Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution from untrusted sources. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.008 for scripting languages and T1566 for credential access through social engineering, emphasizing the need for robust application security controls across all user-facing interfaces.