CVE-2005-4580 in Communique
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Day Communique 4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the query parameter in a search.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-4580 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Day Communique 4 web application platform. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of insecure web application design and specifically aligns with CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web output. The vulnerability exists in the search functionality of the application where user input is not adequately sanitized or validated before being processed and returned to other users. The query parameter in the search function serves as the attack vector, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers. This fundamental flaw demonstrates a critical failure in the application's input validation mechanisms and output encoding practices.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within the search query parameter. When a victim navigates to this crafted URL or when the malicious search query is processed and displayed in the application's search results, the injected script executes in the victim's browser session. This can lead to various malicious outcomes including session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious sites, or the execution of arbitrary commands on the victim's device. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the user interaction level where legitimate users are exposed to the malicious content without any awareness of the underlying attack. The attack chain follows the typical XSS exploitation pattern where the web application fails to properly encode or escape user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages, creating an environment where attacker-controlled scripts can execute within the security context of the vulnerable application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session manipulation. Organizations using Day Communique 4 become vulnerable to persistent threats where attackers can establish footholds within their user base through infected search queries. The vulnerability can be leveraged to perform more sophisticated attacks such as defacement of web pages, data exfiltration, or the establishment of backdoors through the execution of malicious JavaScript code. This type of vulnerability also impacts the overall security posture of the organization by potentially compromising user trust in the application and exposing sensitive user data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where the application might be used for internal communications or document management, as it could lead to unauthorized access to confidential information. The long-term implications include potential regulatory compliance issues, reputational damage, and increased liability from security breaches.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary fix involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's search functionality. This includes sanitizing all user inputs, particularly those used in dynamic content generation, and ensuring that any data returned to users is properly escaped or encoded before rendering. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts and consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. The solution aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213 which focuses on data from information repositories, and the broader ATT&CK framework's approach to defending against web application attacks. Regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing should be implemented to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Additionally, developers should follow secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and the CWE guidelines, specifically focusing on input validation and output encoding to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future development cycles.