CVE-2007-5477 in Half-Life Dedicated Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in auth.w in djeyl.net WebMod 0.48 Half-Life Dedicated Server plugin allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the redir parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2017
The CVE-2007-5477 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the djeyl.net WebMod 0.48 plugin designed for Half-Life Dedicated Server environments. This vulnerability specifically affects the authentication component known as auth.w, which serves as a critical interface for user authentication and session management within the gaming server ecosystem. The flaw manifests in the redir parameter handling mechanism, where the application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into web responses. This oversight creates an exploitable pathway for remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content directly into the authentication flow, potentially compromising user sessions and system integrity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw where untrusted data is executed as web content in the browser of unsuspecting users. The vulnerability operates through a straightforward injection vector where the redir parameter accepts user-supplied input without adequate validation or encoding. When users are redirected through the vulnerable authentication page, any malicious payload embedded within the redir parameter gets executed in the context of the victim's browser session. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious domains.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it fundamentally undermines the security assurances of the authentication system. Attackers can exploit this flaw to redirect authenticated users to phishing sites, steal session cookies, or inject malicious scripts that persistently compromise user browsers. The vulnerability affects the entire WebMod plugin ecosystem, potentially exposing all users of Half-Life Dedicated Servers utilizing this particular plugin version. Given that many gaming servers rely on such authentication mechanisms for user management and access control, the compromise of this authentication component creates a cascading security risk that can affect server integrity and user privacy.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-5477 should focus on immediate input validation and output encoding practices. The most effective remediation involves implementing strict parameter validation for the redir parameter, ensuring that all user-supplied input is properly sanitized before being processed or returned to clients. This includes validating that redirect URLs conform to expected patterns and do not contain potentially dangerous characters or script tags. Additionally, implementing proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content prevents script execution even if malicious input somehow bypasses validation. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to further limit script execution capabilities and monitor for suspicious redirect patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices in authentication systems and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on establishing persistence through web application vulnerabilities, making it essential for security teams to address such flaws proactively rather than reactively.