CVE-2006-1163 in Nodez
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Nodez 4.6.1.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the op parameter. NOTE: it is possible that this issue is resultant from the directory traversal vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-1163 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Nodez content management system version 4.6.1.1. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting attacks where malicious scripts are injected into web applications. The vulnerability manifests through the improper handling of user-supplied input in the op parameter, which serves as a critical entry point for attackers to execute malicious code within the context of other users' browsers. The affected system fails to properly sanitize or validate the op parameter before incorporating it into dynamic web content, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers without requiring any special privileges or authentication.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within the op parameter value. When a victim accesses this specially crafted link, the malicious script executes in the victim's browser within the context of the vulnerable Nodez application. This allows attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web pages, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it enables attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML content, providing them with extensive capabilities to compromise user sessions and manipulate the application's behavior. The issue is classified as a reflected XSS vulnerability since the malicious payload is reflected back to the user through the application's response without being stored on the server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can lead to complete compromise of user sessions and potential data breaches within the Nodez application environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal cookies, session tokens, and other sensitive information that users might have in their browsers. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to modify the application's interface, potentially redirecting users to phishing sites or displaying malicious content that can deceive users into providing sensitive information. Given that this vulnerability affects a content management system, the potential for widespread impact is significant as multiple users may be exposed to the malicious scripts when they access compromised pages. The vulnerability's classification as a directory traversal issue suggests that attackers might be able to exploit multiple attack vectors simultaneously, potentially escalating the severity of the compromise.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective remediation involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly parameters like op, by implementing strict validation rules that reject or escape potentially dangerous characters. The application should employ context-specific output encoding to ensure that any user-provided content is properly escaped when rendered in HTML, JavaScript, or other contexts. Additionally, implementing a content security policy can provide an additional layer of protection against script execution. The system should also be updated to the latest version of Nodez where this vulnerability has been patched, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other application components. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and provide real-time protection against such attacks. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in web application security, aligning with the security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework's web application attack patterns.