CVE-2006-0409 in Photoblog
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in Pixelpost Photoblog 1.4.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the "Add Comment" field in a comment popup.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-0409 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that existed within the Pixelpost Photoblog 1.4.3 web application. This particular weakness resides in the index.php file and specifically targets the comment submission functionality. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code through the "Add Comment" field within the comment popup interface, creating a significant security risk for users interacting with the photoblog platform. The flaw demonstrates a critical failure in input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that should have been implemented to protect against malicious code injection.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that has been consistently identified as one of the most prevalent and dangerous security flaws in web applications. The specific implementation of this vulnerability within Pixelpost Photoblog 1.4.3 represents a failure to properly sanitize user input before rendering it within the web page context. The comment submission field serves as the attack vector where unfiltered user data enters the application and subsequently gets displayed to other users without adequate security measures to prevent script execution. The attack scenario involves an attacker crafting malicious HTML or JavaScript code within the comment field, which then gets executed in the browsers of other users who view the affected comments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it creates a persistent threat that can be leveraged for various malicious activities. When users view comments containing injected scripts, their browsers execute the malicious code, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability affects the entire user base of the photoblog platform since any comment submitted through the compromised interface can serve as a vector for attack. This weakness creates a chain reaction where compromised user sessions can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to personal information, and the malicious scripts can persistently target multiple users over time. The vulnerability also undermines user trust in the platform's security and can lead to reputational damage for the website owner.
From a mitigation perspective, the solution requires implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Pixelpost Photoblog application. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user input through proper escaping techniques before rendering content in the browser context, specifically targeting the comment submission functionality. This aligns with the ATT&CK framework's mitigation strategies for web application attacks, particularly focusing on input validation and output encoding controls. The implementation should include HTML entity encoding of user-supplied data, proper content type validation, and the use of secure coding practices that prevent script execution in web contexts. Additionally, implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) header can provide an additional layer of protection against script execution, while regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping web applications updated with the latest security patches and following secure development lifecycle practices to address such issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors.