CVE-2006-0168 in MyPhPim
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in MyPhPim 01.05 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the description field on the "Create New todo" page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-0168 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the MyPhPim 01.05 web application, specifically targeting the todo creation functionality. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of input validation weaknesses that have been consistently documented in security frameworks including CWE-79, which classifies cross-site scripting as a critical weakness in web applications. The vulnerability manifests when users interact with the "Create New todo" page where the description field fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before rendering it back to the browser. This creates an exploitable condition where remote attackers can inject malicious scripts or HTML content that executes in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to implement proper output encoding or sanitization mechanisms for user-supplied content. When a user submits a todo item with a malicious payload in the description field, the application stores this data without adequate filtering or transformation, allowing the malicious content to persist in the database. Upon subsequent viewing of the todo item, the stored malicious code executes within the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities. This weakness specifically affects the web application's input handling process, where the application does not distinguish between legitimate user content and potentially harmful script code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it provides attackers with the ability to compromise user sessions and potentially escalate their access within the application. Users who view the malicious todo items become victims of the XSS attack, with their browsers executing the injected scripts as if they originated from the legitimate application. This could result in unauthorized access to personal information, modification of todo items, or even complete account compromise if the application does not implement proper session management or authentication controls. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in a personal information management system like MyPhPim where users trust the application with sensitive data and personal tasks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective approach involves implementing strict sanitization of all user inputs before storage, utilizing proper HTML escaping techniques when rendering content back to users, and employing content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution. Security practitioners should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege in application design, ensuring that user inputs are properly validated against expected formats and lengths. Additionally, regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual code reviews should be conducted to identify similar input validation issues. The remediation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code in user browsers through script injection. Organizations should also maintain updated application security frameworks and consider implementing web application firewalls as additional defensive measures against such persistent threats.