CVE-2006-0605 in Shoutbox
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Unknown Domain Shoutbox 2005.07.21 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML, possibly via the (1) Handle or (2) Message fields.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0605 affects the Unknown Domain Shoutbox version 2005.07.21, a web application designed for user interaction and message display. This particular version contains multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that represent a significant security risk to any system where the application is deployed. The flaw exists within the application's input validation mechanisms, specifically in how it processes user-supplied data submitted through two critical fields. These fields are designated as the Handle field and the Message field, both of which serve as entry points for user-generated content that should be properly sanitized before being displayed to other users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user input within the web application's backend processing logic. When users submit data through the Handle or Message fields, the application fails to adequately validate or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This lack of proper input filtering creates an environment where malicious actors can inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content that will execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability manifests as a classic reflected cross-site scripting flaw, where the malicious payload is reflected back to the user through the application's response, executing in the victim's browser session. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues. Attackers can leverage these XSS flaws to perform a variety of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious websites, and data exfiltration. When a victim visits a page containing the malicious script or when the application displays the injected content, the script executes in their browser context, potentially allowing attackers to access session cookies, steal login credentials, or manipulate the application interface. The vulnerability affects all users of the application who are exposed to content submitted through the vulnerable fields, making it particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where multiple users interact with shared content. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1531 - Establish Persistent Access and T1071.001 - Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access through browser-based attacks and leverage web application protocols for malicious purposes.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user inputs by removing or encoding potentially dangerous characters such as angle brackets, quotes, and script tags before processing or storing the data. Additionally, implementing proper Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. The application should also employ proper output encoding when displaying user-generated content, ensuring that any HTML or JavaScript characters are rendered as literal text rather than executable code. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future versions, aligning with industry best practices for secure software development as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework guidelines.