CVE-2006-0506 in Nuked-klaN
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in Nuked-klaN 1.7 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the letter parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2018
The CVE-2006-0506 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Nuked-klaN 1.7 content management system. This vulnerability resides within the index.php file and specifically targets the letter parameter, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or escaping, making it a critical security concern in web applications. The attack vector leverages the insecure handling of user input through the letter parameter, which is typically used for displaying content or filtering data within the application's interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to sanitize or escape user-supplied input before rendering it within web pages. When an attacker submits malicious content through the letter parameter, the application processes this input without adequate validation mechanisms, allowing the injected script to execute in the browser of unsuspecting users who visit the affected page. This type of vulnerability enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, defacement of web pages, theft of sensitive information, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability exists at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by anyone with access to the affected web application.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-0506 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it fundamentally compromises the trust relationship between users and the web application. Users who browse pages containing the vulnerable letter parameter may unknowingly execute malicious code that can persist in their browser sessions, potentially leading to long-term compromise of user accounts. The vulnerability can be exploited through various means including social engineering, where attackers craft malicious links to lure users into triggering the exploit, or through automated scanning tools that systematically test for such vulnerabilities across web applications. This type of vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the risk of injection flaws that can be exploited to compromise web applications. The exploitation process typically involves crafting a payload that includes script tags or other HTML elements designed to execute in the victim's browser context.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user input through proper validation routines that reject or escape potentially dangerous characters and script tags before processing or displaying the data. The application should implement proper HTML escaping mechanisms when rendering user-supplied content, ensuring that any special characters are properly encoded to prevent interpretation as executable code. Security measures should include implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the sources from which scripts can be loaded, and conducting regular security audits to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit this type of vulnerability. The remediation approach aligns with defensive coding practices recommended by the ATT&CK framework for web application security, emphasizing the importance of input validation and output encoding as fundamental security controls to prevent injection-based attacks.