CVE-2006-0664 in Mantis
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in config_defaults_inc.php in Mantis before 1.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unknown attack vectors. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information. An original vendor bug report is referenced, but not accessible to the general public.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-0664 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Mantis bug tracking system version 1.0 and earlier. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web output, making it a critical concern for web application security. The vulnerability exists in the config_defaults_inc.php file, which serves as a configuration default handler within the Mantis system, suggesting that the flaw may have originated from inadequate sanitization of user inputs during the application's initialization or configuration phases.
The technical nature of this vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content through unspecified attack vectors, which indicates a fundamental weakness in how the application processes and validates input data. This particular flaw demonstrates a lack of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms that should be implemented to prevent malicious code execution in the context of a user's browser session. The vulnerability's classification as cross-site scripting means that an attacker could potentially execute arbitrary code within the victim's browser, leading to session hijacking, data theft, or other malicious activities that compromise the integrity of the affected system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it creates a persistent threat vector that could be exploited by attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the Mantis system. Given that this vulnerability affects the configuration defaults file, successful exploitation could potentially allow attackers to manipulate system behavior or gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The fact that the vulnerability affects Mantis versions before 1.0 indicates a long-standing issue that was not properly addressed in the early versions of this widely-used bug tracking system, making it particularly concerning for organizations that may have legacy installations.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which covers 'Modify System Image', as the XSS attack could potentially be used to modify the application's behavior or inject malicious payloads that alter how the system operates. Organizations using Mantis should implement immediate mitigations including updating to version 1.0 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and prevent XSS attacks. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper security testing during the development lifecycle, particularly for configuration and initialization files that may be processed without adequate sanitization of user inputs. The lack of public accessibility to the original vendor bug report underscores the importance of maintaining transparent communication channels between vendors and security researchers to ensure comprehensive vulnerability disclosure and remediation processes.