CVE-2007-5647 in SocketKB
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in SocketKB 1.1.5 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) art_id or (2) node parameter in an article action to the default URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2025
The CVE-2007-5647 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in SocketKB version 1.1.5, a knowledge base management system that was widely deployed in enterprise environments for documenting technical information and support articles. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input parameters within the article action functionality, specifically affecting the art_id and node parameters that are processed through the default URI endpoint. The flaw demonstrates a classic input validation failure that allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into the application's response, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the knowledge base system where users can view and manage articles, making it particularly dangerous as it could be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive technical documentation and potentially escalate privileges within the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of input parameters within the SocketKB application's processing pipeline. When the system receives requests containing the art_id or node parameters through the article action URI, it fails to properly validate or escape these inputs before incorporating them into the HTML response sent to users. This creates an environment where attacker-controlled data can be interpreted as executable code by web browsers, enabling the execution of malicious scripts in the context of the victim's session. The vulnerability is classified as a persistent XSS flaw because the malicious code can be stored within the application's database and executed whenever other users access the affected articles, making it particularly dangerous for shared knowledge base environments where multiple users regularly access the same documentation. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's security architecture.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-5647 extends beyond simple script execution, creating significant risks for organizations relying on SocketKB for critical technical documentation and support information. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or inject phishing content that could compromise user credentials and access to sensitive technical data. In enterprise environments where knowledge bases contain proprietary information, system documentation, and vulnerability assessments, the potential for data exfiltration and privilege escalation becomes particularly concerning. The vulnerability also enables attackers to manipulate the content displayed to users, potentially leading to misinformation campaigns or the injection of malware delivery mechanisms. This risk is compounded by the fact that the vulnerability affects the default URI, meaning it can be exploited through standard navigation paths without requiring specialized attack vectors or complex exploitation techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-5647 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the SocketKB application. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to a supported version that addresses the XSS vulnerability in the article handling functionality. The implementation of proper parameter sanitization should include the use of whitelist validation for all input parameters, particularly those used in URI construction, and the application of context-specific output encoding before any user-supplied data is rendered in HTML contexts. Security teams should also implement content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution and consider deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious input patterns. Additionally, regular security testing including automated vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar flaws in other application components. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and demonstrates the critical need for comprehensive input validation as recommended by the ATT&CK framework's defensive techniques for preventing code injection attacks. Organizations should also establish proper security awareness training for developers to prevent similar vulnerabilities in custom applications and ensure that all user-supplied input is treated as potentially malicious until properly validated and sanitized.