CVE-2005-4682 in AudienceView
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in error.asp in AudienceView allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the TSerrorMessage parameter. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4682 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the AudienceView application's error handling mechanism. This weakness exists in the error.asp component where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to the browser. The specific parameter TSerrorMessage serves as the attack vector, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content directly into the application's error output. Such vulnerabilities fall under the category of CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that has been consistently documented in security frameworks and standards.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing script code and passes it through the TSerrorMessage parameter in the application's error handling flow. When the application processes this input and displays it in the error.asp page without proper HTML encoding or output sanitization, the injected script executes within the context of the victim's browser session. This creates a persistent security risk where attackers can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or defacing the application interface. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the critical importance of implementing proper output encoding mechanisms in web applications.
The operational impact of this XSS vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. Attackers can leverage this weakness to establish persistent access patterns within the application environment, potentially compromising user authentication tokens and enabling more sophisticated attacks such as session hijacking or privilege escalation. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the application's user data and can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information. From an attacker's perspective, this represents a low-effort, high-impact entry point that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, where the initial compromise often begins through web-based attacks targeting user browsers. The lack of proper input validation creates a pathway for attackers to exploit trust relationships between users and the application.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-4682 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly parameters like TSerrorMessage, before they are processed or displayed in web pages. This includes implementing proper HTML encoding techniques that convert special characters into their safe representations, thereby preventing script execution. Security measures should also include content security policy implementation, regular security code reviews, and input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious script injection patterns. The remediation process requires comprehensive testing to ensure that all input parameters are properly validated and that output encoding is consistently applied across all user-facing components. Additionally, regular security training for development teams can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future code implementations, aligning with security best practices established in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.