CVE-2005-4497 in Tangora Portal CMS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Tangora Portal CMS 4.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the action parameter in a search page, as demonstrated using (1) page1631.aspx and (2) page496.aspx.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4497 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Tangora Portal CMS versions 4.0 and earlier, specifically targeting the search functionality of the web application. This vulnerability resides in the improper handling of user input within the action parameter of search pages, creating an exploitable vector that allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content. The vulnerability was demonstrated through specific page endpoints including page1631.aspx and page496.aspx, which serve as proof-of-concept targets for exploitation. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before it is rendered back to users within the web application interface.
The technical exploitation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script code and submits it through the search functionality using the vulnerable action parameter. The CMS fails to implement proper sanitization or encoding of this input before processing and displaying it within the web page context. When other users interact with the affected search results or pages, the injected scripts execute within their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and falls under the broader category of input validation weaknesses that compromise web application security. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities through malicious input injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the CMS environment. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to create backdoor access points, modify content, or exfiltrate sensitive data from the portal. The affected pages page1631.aspx and page496.aspx represent critical attack vectors since they are part of the core search functionality, which is frequently accessed by users. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can affect a large number of users and can be exploited without requiring authentication or specific user interaction beyond accessing the vulnerable search functionality. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects the CMS version 4.0 and earlier, suggesting that many organizations may have been running unpatched systems with this security gap.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-4497 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary solution involves upgrading to a patched version of Tangora Portal CMS that properly implements input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization that filters or encodes special characters in all search parameters before processing. The implementation of Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide additional protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed within the browser context. Regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual code review should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the web application. Additionally, implementing proper error handling and input validation at the application level, combined with regular security updates and patch management processes, will help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future versions of the CMS. The vulnerability underscores the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to OWASP Top Ten security guidelines for web application development and maintenance.