CVE-2006-0204 in Wordcircle
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Wordcircle 2.17 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the "Course name" field in index.php when the frm parameter has the value "mine" and (2) possibly certain other fields in unspecified scripts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0204 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting Wordcircle version 2.17, a web-based course management system. This vulnerability resides within the application's input validation mechanisms and allows malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions. The flaw specifically manifests when processing user-supplied data through the Course name field in the index.php script, particularly when the frm parameter is set to "mine". This particular attack vector demonstrates how insufficient sanitization of user input can create persistent security risks within web applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize user-provided data before rendering it in web pages. When users enter content into the Course name field, the application does not adequately filter or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This lack of input sanitization creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious payloads that execute in the browsers of other users who view the affected content. The vulnerability's classification as CWE-79 indicates a classic improper neutralization of input during web page generation, which is one of the most common and dangerous web application security flaws.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations using Wordcircle 2.17 for educational or training purposes. Attackers could exploit this weakness to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface course materials, or execute phishing attacks against other users. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as attackers could potentially gain persistent access to course management systems and manipulate educational content. The vulnerability's presence in the index.php script with the frm parameter set to "mine" suggests that it affects core functionality of the application, making it particularly dangerous as it could impact any user who interacts with course listings or management features.
The attack surface of this vulnerability is further extended by the unspecified nature of other potentially affected fields in "unspecified scripts," indicating that the root cause may be systemic throughout the application's codebase. This suggests that the application likely employs a similar input handling pattern across multiple scripts, creating multiple potential entry points for attackers. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be accomplished through standard web-based attack methods, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may not be security-aware. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering attacks that leverage web-based vulnerabilities to compromise systems.
Organizations using Wordcircle 2.17 should immediately implement mitigations including comprehensive input validation, output encoding, and proper sanitization of all user-supplied data. The recommended approach involves implementing strict input validation rules that reject or escape special characters in all user-facing fields, particularly those that are rendered in web contexts. Additionally, developers should implement proper content security policies and consider implementing a web application firewall to detect and block malicious input patterns. The vulnerability's age and the lack of available patches for this specific version highlight the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar issues in legacy applications. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to raise awareness about the dangers of clicking on suspicious links or entering untrusted content in web applications.