CVE-2011-5115 in DLGuard
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in DLGuard, possibly 4.6 and earlier, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the searchCart parameter to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2019
The CVE-2011-5115 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in DLGuard software versions 4.6 and earlier, exposing web applications to remote code execution through malicious script injection. This vulnerability specifically targets the searchCart parameter within the index.php file, creating an attack vector that allows adversaries to manipulate web application behavior through crafted input. The flaw resides in the application's insufficient validation and sanitization of user-supplied data, enabling attackers to bypass security controls and inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input handling within the DLGuard web application framework, where the searchCart parameter fails to undergo adequate sanitization before being processed and returned to users. When a user submits a search query containing malicious script code through this parameter, the application stores and renders the input without proper escaping or encoding, creating a persistent XSS condition. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or sanitization.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-5115 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, redirect users to malicious websites, or even execute unauthorized administrative actions within the compromised application. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to user sessions, potentially compromising entire user bases within the DLGuard application environment. The remote nature of this attack means that exploitation can occur without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for web-based commerce platforms that rely on user trust and data security.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should encompass multiple layers of defense including immediate patching of DLGuard installations to versions that address the XSS flaw, implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. Security measures should also include regular security assessments and code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities, along with user education regarding the dangers of clicking suspicious links or entering untrusted data into web forms. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 for Phishing, highlighting the need for both technical defenses and user awareness training to prevent exploitation of such web application vulnerabilities.