CVE-2006-0152 in phpChamber
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) in search_result.php in phpChamber 1.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the needle parameter. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0152 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the phpChamber content management system version 1.2 and earlier. This security weakness exists in the search_result.php script which processes user input through the needle parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web page content.
The technical nature of this flaw places it squarely within the scope of CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly sanitize user input that gets reflected back to users in web applications. This weakness enables attackers to craft malicious payloads that exploit the application's trust in user-provided data, allowing them to inject JavaScript code or HTML elements that execute in the victim's browser context. The needle parameter serves as the primary attack vector, where an attacker can submit crafted input containing malicious scripts that get processed and displayed without proper sanitization, thereby creating a persistent XSS vulnerability.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to both application integrity and user security. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even deface the affected web pages. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers can establish persistent malicious presence within the application environment, potentially leading to complete compromise of user accounts and the underlying system. The vulnerability affects all users interacting with the phpChamber application, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where different privilege levels may be present.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective immediate fix involves properly sanitizing all user input parameters, particularly those used in dynamic content generation, through the application of context-appropriate encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding for output contexts. Additionally, implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) header can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. The application should also employ proper input validation routines that reject or sanitize potentially dangerous characters and patterns commonly associated with XSS attacks. Organizations using phpChamber should consider upgrading to versions that have addressed this vulnerability, as the original affected versions are likely to contain other unpatched security issues. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, where attackers might exploit such vulnerabilities to deliver malicious payloads through compromised web interfaces, making it crucial for security teams to address this weakness promptly through both immediate remediation and comprehensive security assessment of the application environment.