CVE-2006-1008 in N8cms Sitesuite Cms
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in N8cms 1.1 and 1.2 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) dir and (2) page_id parameter to (a) index.php and (3) userid parameter to (b) mailto.php. NOTE: it is possible that issues 1 and 2 are resultant from SQL injection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-1008 represents a critical security flaw in N8cms versions 1.1 and 1.2 that exposes the content management system to multiple cross-site scripting attacks. This vulnerability affects the core functionality of the application by allowing remote attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, creating a significant risk for both administrators and end-users who interact with the CMS. The vulnerability manifests through three distinct parameter injection points that collectively represent a sophisticated attack surface targeting fundamental input validation mechanisms within the application's core architecture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves three specific parameter injection points that bypass the application's input sanitization processes. The first and second parameters, dir and page_id, are targeted at the index.php endpoint, while the third parameter userid is directed toward mailto.php. These parameters represent common entry points for user input within web applications and are particularly dangerous when they allow arbitrary script execution without proper validation or encoding. The vulnerability's classification as a potential SQL injection issue suggests that the underlying input handling mechanisms may be fundamentally flawed, allowing attackers to manipulate both the application's logic and its data processing layers simultaneously.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection to encompass potential data compromise and system compromise. When attackers successfully exploit these XSS vulnerabilities, they can execute malicious JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers, potentially stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or performing actions on behalf of authenticated users. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete system compromise if the affected users have administrative privileges. The vulnerability's presence in both index.php and mailto.php suggests that the application's input validation is inconsistently applied across its interface, creating multiple attack vectors that can be exploited in combination.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection and T1566 for social engineering through malicious links. The vulnerability's potential for SQL injection component further complicates the threat landscape, as it could enable attackers to escalate privileges through database manipulation. Organizations using affected N8cms versions face significant risk of unauthorized access, data theft, and potential system compromise. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions indicates a systemic issue in the application's development lifecycle, suggesting inadequate security testing and code review processes. Immediate remediation through patching or input validation implementation is essential to prevent exploitation, as these vulnerabilities can be easily weaponized by threat actors and do not require specialized knowledge to exploit.
The remediation strategy should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding across all user-facing parameters. This includes sanitizing all input values using proper escaping techniques, implementing Content Security Policy headers, and ensuring consistent validation logic across all application endpoints. Additionally, the application should be updated to a patched version that addresses both the XSS and potential SQL injection vulnerabilities, as the two issues may be interconnected and require coordinated fixes to prevent further exploitation opportunities.