CVE-2005-4491 in Sitekit CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Sitekit CMS 6.6 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) query string, (2) textonly, (3) locID, and (4) lang parameters to (a) Default.aspx, and the (6) ClickFrom parameter to (b) Request-call-back.html and (c) registration-form.html. NOTE: the vendor states "This issue was resolved by a minor update to Sitekit CMS v6.6, sanitising the html code and eradicating related security issues."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4491 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Sitekit CMS version 6.6 and earlier implementations. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically manifesting as an insecure input handling issue that permits malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into web applications. The flaw exists in the parameter validation mechanisms of the CMS, allowing attackers to exploit multiple entry points within the application's user interface and backend processing systems.
Multiple attack vectors have been identified within this vulnerability, each targeting different parameters and pages within the Sitekit CMS framework. The primary attack surfaces include the query string parameter in Default.aspx, the textonly parameter, locID parameter, and lang parameter all within the same page, as well as the ClickFrom parameter in both Request-call-back.html and registration-form.html pages. These parameters lack proper input sanitization and validation, creating consistent pathways for malicious code injection regardless of the specific parameter used. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security design principles where input validation occurs too late in the processing pipeline or not at all.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data manipulation, and redirection to malicious sites. When exploited, these XSS vulnerabilities can allow attackers to establish persistent access to user sessions, steal sensitive information, manipulate content displayed to other users, and potentially escalate privileges within the CMS environment. The vulnerability affects the entire user base that interacts with the CMS, particularly those who may be authenticated or have access to sensitive content management functions.
Security professionals should note that the vendor has acknowledged this vulnerability and provided a resolution through a minor update that implements HTML code sanitization and eradication of related security issues. This remediation approach aligns with the principle of least privilege and input validation best practices recommended in cybersecurity frameworks. The fix demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing robust input sanitization mechanisms as part of the defense-in-depth strategy. Organizations should prioritize updating to the patched version of Sitekit CMS to mitigate the risk of exploitation and ensure compliance with industry security standards that emphasize proactive vulnerability management and timely patch deployment.