CVE-2006-0463 in IdeoContent Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IdeoContent Manager allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) goto_id parameter to index.php or (2) page parameter to news_full.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-0463 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the IdeoContent Manager web application, a content management system that was widely used in enterprise environments during the mid-2000s. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-79, which specifically addresses Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, commonly known as XSS. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through two distinct attack vectors that exploit the same underlying weakness in input validation. The first vector targets the goto_id parameter in the index.php file, while the second targets the page parameter in news_full.php. Both parameters are directly incorporated into the application's output without adequate sanitization or encoding, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content. When a victim's browser processes the maliciously crafted URL containing the injected script, the code executes in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the target environment. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, and T1531 for Account Access Through Web Shell, which demonstrates how a simple XSS flaw can serve as a launching point for broader compromise. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it without requiring physical access or prior authentication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the content management system handles sensitive information or user data. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized access to user sessions, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the network.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate input validation issues and implement broader security controls. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization techniques, including HTML encoding of all user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages, which directly addresses the CWE-79 root cause. Additionally, the implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. The application should also employ proper output encoding mechanisms for different contexts, such as HTML, JavaScript, and URL contexts, as recommended by OWASP guidelines. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to ensure that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other parameters or application components. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping content management systems updated, as many of these issues were subsequently addressed in later versions of the software through improved input validation and sanitization mechanisms.