CVE-2006-0885 in CuteNews
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in show_news.php in CuteNews 1.4.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the show parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2025
The CVE-2006-0885 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the CuteNews 1.4.1 content management system that exposes web applications to persistent malicious code execution. This vulnerability specifically targets the show_news.php script which processes user input through the show parameter without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The flaw exists within the application's input handling logic where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into web responses without proper encoding or filtering, creating an environment where malicious actors can inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws identified by the CWE organization. This particular implementation allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within the show parameter of the show_news.php endpoint. When a victim visits this crafted URL, the malicious script executes in their browser session, potentially accessing cookies, session tokens, or performing actions that the victim is authorized to perform. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental lack of input validation and output encoding practices that are standard in secure web application development. Attackers can leverage this flaw to create persistent XSS attacks by embedding malicious payloads that remain active until the application is updated or the affected parameter is modified. The impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can enable more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting, defacement of web content, or redirection to malicious sites that can further compromise user systems and network security.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represents a critical security risk for organizations using CuteNews 1.4.1 as it allows attackers to establish persistent footholds within web applications that may contain sensitive user data or serve as entry points to broader network infrastructures. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or insider knowledge to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous in environments where web applications are publicly accessible. The attack surface is expanded by the fact that this vulnerability affects a widely used content management system, potentially exposing numerous websites to similar risks. Security teams must consider the broader implications of such vulnerabilities within their application security posture, as they often indicate deeper architectural issues related to input validation, output encoding, and secure coding practices that may affect other components of the web application stack.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in dynamic content generation. The recommended approach involves implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all output that incorporates user data, as well as validating and sanitizing all input parameters against known good character sets. Security controls should include web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit XSS vulnerabilities, along with regular security assessments to identify similar flaws in other web applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping web applications updated with the latest security patches, as the CWE-79 category emphasizes that such flaws often result from inadequate input validation practices that can be addressed through proper secure coding standards and regular security testing. This particular vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for comprehensive application security measures that go beyond simple patch management to include robust input validation and secure coding practices throughout the software development lifecycle.