CVE-2006-1110 in Aztek Forum
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Aztek Forum 4.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the message body in a new message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1110 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Aztek Forum 4.0 web application, classified under CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. This vulnerability resides in the message handling functionality of the forum software, specifically in how the application processes and renders user-submitted content within the message body field. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code directly into forum posts, creating a persistent vector for exploitation that affects all users interacting with the compromised content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Aztek Forum 4.0 application. When users submit new messages containing specially crafted payloads in the message body field, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it on the web page. This lack of proper input filtering creates an environment where attacker-controlled scripts can execute within the context of other users' browsers, leveraging the trusted relationship between the victim and the vulnerable forum application. The vulnerability operates at the presentation layer of the web application, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through simple HTTP requests without requiring authentication or elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform various malicious activities through the compromised forum platform. Attackers can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface the forum content, or even execute more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting or privilege escalation within the forum's user context. The persistent nature of this vulnerability means that once a malicious payload is posted, it continues to affect all users who view the affected content until the post is manually removed or the forum is patched. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in community-driven environments where users frequently interact with forum content and trust the platform's integrity.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1531 Lateral Tool Transfer and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access through script injection and maintain control over user sessions. The vulnerability also represents a significant risk to the overall security posture of organizations using the affected software, as it can serve as an entry point for more comprehensive attacks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and regular security updates to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices, as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and other security standards, to prevent such persistent and dangerous flaws from compromising web applications.