CVE-2005-4512 in WAXTRAPP
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in WAXTRAPP 3.0.1 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 • 07/15/2018
The CVE-2005-4512 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the WAXTRAPP content management system version 3.0.1 and earlier. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The vulnerability specifically affects the search functionality of the WAXTRAPP platform, where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being processed and returned to other users. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious scripts or HTML code through unspecified search parameters, creating a persistent security risk for all users interacting with the vulnerable application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the WAXTRAPP application. When users submit search queries, the system fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows attackers to craft malicious search terms containing script tags or other malicious payloads that get executed in the browsers of other users who view the search results. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the user interface level where search parameters are processed and displayed, making it difficult to distinguish between legitimate and malicious input without proper sanitization mechanisms. The unspecified nature of the search parameters suggests that multiple input points within the search functionality may be vulnerable to this attack vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. Attackers can leverage this XSS flaw to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or even execute arbitrary commands on behalf of authenticated users. This creates a significant risk for organizations using WAXTRAPP, as it could lead to unauthorized access to administrative functions, data manipulation, or the complete compromise of user accounts. The vulnerability also poses a risk to the application's integrity and user trust, as compromised users may unknowingly execute malicious code that could further propagate attacks within the network. The persistent nature of XSS vulnerabilities means that once exploited, the malicious scripts can continue to affect users until the underlying vulnerability is patched.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding to prevent the execution of malicious scripts in search parameters. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user input through proper encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding before displaying any content. Additionally, implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Initial Access through Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers could use this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through compromised search functionality. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar input validation gaps, and organizations should ensure their WAXTRAPP installations are updated to versions that address this specific vulnerability. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to verify that all search parameters are properly sanitized and that no other similar vulnerabilities exist within the application's codebase.