CVE-2006-0251 in Faq-O-Matic
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in fom.cgi in Faq-O-Matic 2.711 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) _duration, (2) file, and (3) cmd parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0251 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Faq-O-Matic 2.711 web application, specifically within the fom.cgi script. This vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security where input data is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into web pages. The vulnerability affects the application's handling of user-supplied parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through three distinct parameter injection points: _duration, file, and cmd. These parameters are processed by the fom.cgi script without adequate input validation or output encoding, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads directly into the application's response. When these parameters are manipulated with crafted input containing script tags or other malicious HTML content, the vulnerable application fails to sanitize the data properly before rendering it in web pages. This creates an environment where any user accessing the affected application could unknowingly execute the injected code, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it represents a significant threat to user security and application integrity. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform session fixation attacks, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even inject persistent XSS payloads that remain active until the application is updated. The vulnerability affects all users of the Faq-O-Matic 2.711 application, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with the system. This type of vulnerability is categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it enables attackers to execute JavaScript code within victim browsers. The vulnerability's severity is compounded by the fact that it requires minimal skill to exploit, making it a preferred target for automated attacks and script kiddies.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary fix involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters, specifically ensuring that the _duration, file, and cmd parameters are sanitized before being processed or displayed. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities, employ proper parameter validation using allowlists rather than blocklists, and ensure all user input is properly encoded before being rendered in web pages. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of the principle of least privilege and input sanitization, which are core requirements in security frameworks such as the OWASP Top Ten and ISO 27001. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be implemented to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application, as this type of flaw often indicates broader security issues within the codebase. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit this vulnerability.