CVE-2006-1165 in DokuWiki
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the mediamanager module in DokuWiki before 2006-03-05 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unknown attack vectors relating to "handling EXIF data."
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-1165 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within the mediamanager module of DokuWiki versions prior to 2006-03-05. This flaw specifically manifests during the processing of EXIF data within the media management functionality, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by remote adversaries to execute malicious scripts within the context of affected user browsers. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms when handling metadata extracted from image files, particularly those containing EXIF information that is commonly embedded in digital photographs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of EXIF data attributes during the media upload and display processes within DokuWiki's mediamanager. When users upload images containing EXIF metadata, the system fails to adequately sanitize or escape the data before rendering it within web pages. This oversight creates an environment where attacker-controlled EXIF data can contain malicious script code that executes when other users view the affected media files. The attack vector is particularly insidious because EXIF data is often automatically processed and displayed without user intervention, making the exploitation implicit rather than requiring direct user interaction beyond normal browsing behavior. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws, and represents a classic case of unsafe output encoding in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The mediamanager module serves as a core component for media file handling in DokuWiki installations, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could affect numerous websites relying on the platform. Attackers could craft specially formatted images with malicious EXIF data that would execute when any user views the media gallery or individual media files, potentially leading to full account compromise or data exfiltration. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the target system, making it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to compromise multiple installations simultaneously.
Organizations utilizing affected DokuWiki versions should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to the patched version released on 2006-03-05, which addressed the specific EXIF data handling routines. Additional defensive measures include implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, conducting regular security audits of uploaded media files, and establishing strict file validation policies that reject images with potentially malicious metadata. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization for all user-provided data, particularly metadata that may contain embedded scripts or malicious content. Security practitioners should also consider implementing automated monitoring for suspicious media file uploads and establishing incident response procedures for potential XSS exploitation attempts. This case highlights the broader ATT&CK framework concept of initial access through web application vulnerabilities, where attackers leverage seemingly benign functionality to establish persistent access to target systems.