CVE-2005-4649 in Advanced Guestbook
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Advanced Guestbook 2.2 and 2.3.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the entry parameter in index.php and (2) the gb_id parameter in comment.php. NOTE: The index.php/entry vector might be resultant from CVE-2005-1548.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-4649 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting Advanced Guestbook versions 2.2 and 2.3.1. This issue falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a fundamental web application security flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability specifically targets two distinct input parameters within the guestbook application's web interface, creating multiple attack vectors that can be exploited by remote threat actors without requiring any privileged access or authentication.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through improper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Advanced Guestbook software. When users submit entries through the index.php script using the entry parameter, or when viewing comments through comment.php using the gb_id parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before rendering it back to web browsers. This lack of proper input sanitization creates an environment where malicious actors can inject HTML code, JavaScript, or other malicious payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability's classification as a reflected XSS attack means that the malicious script is reflected off the web server and executed in the victim's browser, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that display user-generated content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. When an attacker successfully injects malicious code through the entry parameter in index.php or the gb_id parameter in comment.php, they can potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or even modify the guestbook's functionality to serve as a platform for further attacks. The fact that this vulnerability might be related to CVE-2005-1548 indicates a pattern of similar input handling issues within the same application, suggesting that the entire guestbook system may be vulnerable to multiple XSS attacks through various input points. This interconnected nature of vulnerabilities significantly increases the risk surface and makes the application particularly attractive to attackers seeking persistent access to the target system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective approach involves implementing strict sanitization of all user inputs before they are processed or displayed, utilizing established security libraries and frameworks that can properly escape HTML and JavaScript characters. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and restrict the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Additionally, the application should employ proper parameter validation techniques that reject or sanitize any input containing potentially dangerous characters or script tags. The vulnerability's age and the specific version affected (2.2 and 2.3.1) indicate that upgrading to a patched version of the Advanced Guestbook software represents the most comprehensive solution, as newer versions would have addressed these fundamental input handling flaws. Security professionals should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security scanning to detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities in other applications within the organization's infrastructure, aligning with the ATT&CK framework's approach to defending against web application attacks through multiple layers of security controls.