CVE-2010-5045 in Smart ASP Survey
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in poll/default.asp in Smart ASP Survey allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the catid parameter.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/13/2024
The CVE-2010-5045 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the Smart ASP Survey application's poll/default.asp component. This security weakness enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of legitimate user sessions by manipulating the catid parameter. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and well-documented web application security issues. The flaw occurs when user-supplied input from the catid parameter is not properly sanitized or encoded before being rendered in the web page output, creating an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious code that executes in the victim's browser.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Smart ASP Survey application. When the catid parameter is passed to the poll/default.asp page, the application directly incorporates this value into the HTML response without adequate sanitization. This allows attackers to embed malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that gets executed when other users view the affected page. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it enables attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The attack vector is straightforward and requires minimal technical expertise, making it an attractive target for both skilled and less sophisticated threat actors.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using Smart ASP Survey applications. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to include potential account takeovers, defacement of survey content, and the possibility of establishing persistent backdoors through more complex attack chains. The vulnerability can be exploited through various methods including email phishing campaigns, compromised websites, or social engineering tactics that trick users into clicking malicious links. Organizations may experience reputational damage, regulatory compliance issues, and potential financial losses due to unauthorized access to survey data and user information. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor security practices in web application development, particularly the absence of proper input validation and output encoding controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-5045 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The primary remediation involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly the catid parameter, through proper encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding or JavaScript escaping. Organizations should implement a whitelist-based input validation approach that only accepts known good values for the catid parameter. Additionally, the application should employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and code reviews, as well as adherence to secure coding practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and the MITRE ATT&CK framework for web application security. Patching the application to a version that properly handles input validation or implementing proper parameter validation at the web server level can effectively address this vulnerability and prevent exploitation by malicious actors.