CVE-2005-4555 in DEV web management system
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in add.php in DEV web management system 1.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) ENTER_ARTICLE_TITLE, (2) SPECIFY_ZONE, (3) ENTER_ARTICLE_HEADER, and (4) ENTER_ARTICLE_BODY indices in the language array parameter.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2025
The CVE-2005-4555 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the DEV web management system version 1.5 and earlier, demonstrating a critical weakness in input validation and output encoding mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically targets the add.php script which processes article creation functionality, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking to exploit web application security gaps. The flaw manifests when user-supplied data is directly incorporated into web responses without proper sanitization, creating an environment where attackers can inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability affects four distinct parameters within the language array structure, including ENTER_ARTICLE_TITLE, SPECIFY_ZONE, ENTER_ARTICLE_HEADER, and ENTER_ARTICLE_BODY, indicating a systemic issue in how the application handles multilingual content processing. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws, representing one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security weaknesses identified by the CWE organization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of language parameters that are used to display article content in the web interface. When attackers craft malicious input containing script tags or other executable code within these specific parameter fields, the application fails to properly encode or escape the output before rendering it in the browser. This allows the injected scripts to execute in the context of legitimate users who view the affected content, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability's impact is amplified because it affects core content creation parameters that are frequently used by both legitimate users and attackers, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the application handles sensitive information or user-generated content. The attack vector is classified as a reflected XSS vulnerability since the malicious input is processed by the server and immediately reflected back to the user's browser without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-4555 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling sophisticated attack chains that can compromise entire user sessions and data integrity within the affected web management system. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or inject persistent malicious content that affects all users who view the compromised articles. The vulnerability's presence in a web management system suggests potential access to administrative functions, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on the platform for content management or business-critical operations. This type of vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers Phishing with malicious attachments or links, as attackers can use the XSS payload to redirect victims to malicious sites or harvest credentials through session manipulation. Organizations using affected versions of DEV web management system face significant risk of data breaches and unauthorized access to their content management infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-4555 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. The primary fix involves implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms that sanitize all user-supplied data before it is processed or displayed in the web interface. This includes implementing proper HTML escaping for all dynamic content and ensuring that the application enforces strict input validation on all parameters within the language array structure. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy headers to add an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks, and establish regular security auditing procedures to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input sanitization, particularly in web applications that handle multilingual content, as demonstrated by the need to properly encode all parameters within the language array. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and authentication mechanisms within the web management system would further reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while regular security updates and patches should be applied to ensure the system remains protected against known vulnerabilities.