CVE-2006-1096 in NZ Ecommerce
Summary
by MITRE
** DISPUTED ** Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in NZ Ecommerce allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the action parameter. NOTE: the vendor has disputed this issue in a comment on the researcher s blog, but research by CVE suggests that this might be a legitimate problem.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1096 represents a cross-site scripting flaw located within the index.php file of the NZ Ecommerce web application. This security weakness specifically affects the handling of user input through the action parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute unauthorized code within the context of other users' browsers. The disputed nature of this vulnerability stems from the vendor's initial denial of the reported issue, yet subsequent research has indicated that the problem may indeed be valid and exploitable. The vulnerability falls under the category of persistent XSS attacks where attacker-controlled content can be injected into web pages viewed by other users, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or validate input received through the action parameter in the index.php script. When users navigate to the affected page and interact with the vulnerable parameter, the application directly incorporates user-supplied data into the web response without adequate encoding or filtering mechanisms. This lack of input validation creates a condition where malicious scripts can be executed in the browser context of legitimate users who visit affected pages. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that has been consistently identified as one of the top ten web application security risks by the OWASP Top Ten Project. The attack vector operates through the standard HTTP request mechanism where an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within the action parameter, which is then executed when the vulnerable application processes and displays the input.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that compromise user sessions and sensitive data. When an attacker successfully injects malicious scripts through the action parameter, they can potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or modify page content to deceive users into revealing confidential information. The vulnerability's persistence depends on how the application handles the injected content, with reflected XSS attacks being particularly dangerous as they require no server-side storage of malicious content. The attack can be executed through various means including social engineering, where users are tricked into clicking malicious links, or through automated scanning tools that identify vulnerable applications. According to ATT&CK framework classification, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell, though in this case the scripting occurs through web-based mechanisms rather than direct command execution. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the web application by potentially allowing unauthorized access to user accounts and sensitive data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-1096 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective approach involves implementing proper parameter sanitization where all user inputs are validated against expected formats and encoded before being rendered in web pages. The application should employ context-specific encoding such as HTML entity encoding for content displayed in web pages, JavaScript encoding for dynamic script content, and URL encoding for parameters transmitted through URLs. Additionally, implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) header can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. The security team should also consider implementing input length restrictions, regular security code reviews, and automated vulnerability scanning to identify similar issues in other parts of the application. Organizations should establish secure coding practices that align with industry standards including OWASP Secure Coding Practices and the ISO/IEC 27001 information security management framework. The remediation process requires thorough testing of all input parameters, particularly those that are directly incorporated into web responses, and the implementation of proper error handling that does not expose internal system information to end users. Regular security training for developers and implementation of automated security testing in the development lifecycle are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future releases.