CVE-2006-1331 in Noahs Classifieds
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in index.php in Noah s Classifieds 1.3 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) method or (2) list parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1331 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Noah s Classifieds version 1.3 and earlier systems. This vulnerability resides within the index.php script and demonstrates a classic input validation failure that enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML content within the context of affected user sessions. The flaw specifically manifests through two distinct parameter injection points namely the method parameter and the list parameter, both of which are processed without adequate sanitization or output encoding mechanisms.
From a technical perspective this vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as the failure to properly escape output or validate input data. The vulnerability exploitation occurs when user-supplied data enters the application through these parameters and is subsequently rendered in web pages without proper HTML entity encoding or script context validation. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when executed, will run within the browser context of legitimate users who visit affected pages. This creates a persistent threat vector where malicious scripts can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. Given that classifieds systems typically handle sensitive user information including contact details, business listings, and potentially financial data, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to user accounts or manipulate classified listings. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the system or insider knowledge of internal processes. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering attacks including the use of malicious links or scripts to compromise user systems. The attack surface is particularly concerning in classifieds environments where users may trust the legitimacy of the platform and click on malicious links without suspicion.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary fix involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms for all user-supplied data entering through the affected parameters. This includes applying HTML entity encoding before rendering any user-provided content and implementing strict input validation that rejects or sanitizes potentially malicious payloads. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution contexts and reduce the impact of successful XSS attacks. Additionally, regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and output encoding practices in web application security, particularly for applications handling user-generated content or classified information.