CVE-2005-4721 in tmsPUBLISHER
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in search.cfm in tmsPUBLISHER 3.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the q parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4721 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the tmsPUBLISHER 3.3 content management system. This security weakness resides in the search.cfm component which processes user input through the q parameter, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically affects the web application's input validation mechanisms, which fail to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input filtering and output encoding practices within the tmsPUBLISHER application. When users submit search queries through the q parameter, the application directly incorporates this input into the HTML response without sufficient sanitization measures. This allows attackers to embed malicious scripts such as javascript code, which then executes in the victim's browser when the search results page is rendered. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various vectors including reflected XSS attacks where malicious input is immediately reflected back in the application's response.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to both end users and system administrators. Attackers can leverage this weakness to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or deface the affected web pages. The potential for credential theft and session hijacking makes this particularly dangerous in environments where users have administrative privileges or access to sensitive information. Additionally, the vulnerability could be used as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, potentially leading to complete system compromise or data exfiltration.
The security implications of CVE-2005-4721 align with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as a critical weakness in web application security. This vulnerability also maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for initial access through malicious web content and T1071 for application layer protocol usage. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and the implementation of proper content security policies. The recommended remediation involves sanitizing all user input through proper escaping mechanisms and implementing a robust input validation framework that prevents malicious code injection. Additionally, deploying web application firewalls and regular security code reviews can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future versions of the application.