CVE-2006-0217 in Ultimate Auction
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Ultimate Auction 3.67 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) item parameter in item.pl and (2) category parameter in itemlist.pl, which reflects the XSS in an error message. NOTE: the affected version might be wrong since the current version as of 20060116 is 3.6.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-0217 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Ultimate Auction 3.67 web application, exposing users to potential malicious code execution through web browser manipulation. This vulnerability specifically affects two distinct input parameters within the application's codebase, creating attack vectors that could be exploited by remote threat actors to compromise user sessions and execute unauthorized commands. The flaw exists in the item.pl script where the item parameter is processed, and in itemlist.pl where the category parameter is handled, both of which fail to properly sanitize user input before reflecting it in error messages displayed to end users. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and output encoding that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts directly into the application's response flow.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data within the auction platform's web interface. When users submit requests containing malicious payloads through the item parameter in item.pl or the category parameter in itemlist.pl, the application fails to properly encode or filter the input before incorporating it into error messages. This creates a reflected XSS condition where the malicious script code becomes part of the web page's HTML response and executes in the context of the victim's browser. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, where applications fail to properly validate or encode user-controllable data that is subsequently reflected back to users. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that attackers must craft specific malicious URLs that, when visited by victims, will trigger the execution of the injected code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, redirect victims to malicious websites, or manipulate auction data. An attacker could craft specially designed auction listings or category queries that, when viewed by other users, would execute malicious JavaScript code in their browsers. This could lead to unauthorized access to user accounts, manipulation of auction outcomes, or the theft of sensitive information including session cookies and personal data. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the auction platform, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire system. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 which covers the technique of "Phishing with Social Engineering" and T1059.007 which involves "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript," indicating that attackers could leverage this flaw to establish persistent access through malicious web content.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. Developers should ensure that all user-supplied data is sanitized before being processed or displayed, particularly in error message contexts where reflected data is common. The recommended approach includes implementing strict input validation that rejects or filters out potentially malicious characters and sequences, combined with proper HTML encoding of all output data to prevent script execution in browser contexts. Additionally, the application should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed. The fix should also include updating the application to a newer version if available, as the advisory mentions that the affected version might be incorrect and that a newer version exists as of 20060116. Security headers and proper error handling mechanisms should be implemented to prevent the direct reflection of user input in error messages without appropriate sanitization. Regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual code review should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application.