CVE-2005-4597 in iPei Guestbook
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in iPei Guestbook 1.7 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the email parameter, as used by the email field, when signing a guestbook.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4597 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the iPei Guestbook 1.7 web application. This security weakness resides in the index.php file and specifically affects the email parameter handling mechanism when users submit guestbook entries. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code directly into the guestbook's email field, creating a persistent XSS vector that can be exploited by unauthorized parties. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical failure in input validation and output sanitization within the web application's data processing pipeline.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's inadequate filtering of user-supplied input data. When users enter email addresses into the guestbook form, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it back to other users browsing the guestbook. This omission creates an environment where malicious actors can embed script tags or other HTML elements within the email field that execute when other visitors view the guestbook entries. The flaw operates under CWE-79 which classifies the vulnerability as a failure to sanitize input, specifically targeting the improper handling of user-provided data in web applications. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication or privileged access, making it accessible to any remote user with basic web browsing capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, creating potential for more sophisticated attacks within the context of the iPei Guestbook application. Attackers could exploit this weakness to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or perform actions on behalf of other users through techniques such as CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery) attacks. The persistent nature of guestbook entries means that once the malicious code is injected, it remains active for all future visitors until manually removed by administrators. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which describes the use of web application vulnerabilities to gain access to user sessions, and T1059 which covers the execution of malicious code through scripting languages. The presence of such a vulnerability in a guestbook application particularly exposes users to social engineering attacks where the injected scripts can manipulate the guestbook's appearance or functionality to deceive visitors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user input before processing or storing it, specifically implementing proper HTML escaping for any data that will be rendered back to users. The application should employ context-specific encoding based on where the data will be displayed, using techniques such as HTML entity encoding for web page content and JavaScript escaping for dynamic script content. Additionally, implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) header can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other parts of the application. The fix should also include implementing proper error handling and logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain audit trails for security monitoring purposes. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls or security modules that can detect and block XSS attempts in real-time, providing an additional defensive layer against such attacks.