CVE-2006-1504 in Arab Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Arab Portal 2.0 (aka Arab Dynamic Portal or ADP) stable allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the title parameter in (1) online.php and (2) download.php.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1504 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Arab Portal 2.0, also known as Arab Dynamic Portal or ADP, a web-based content management system that was widely deployed in the Middle East region during the early 2000s. This particular vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user input within specific PHP scripts, creating a persistent security weakness that could be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the context of users' browsers. The affected software version 2.0 demonstrates a fundamental failure in input validation and output encoding mechanisms that directly violates core web security principles. The vulnerability specifically targets the title parameter in two distinct files: online.php and download.php, indicating that the flaw exists at a structural level within the application's codebase rather than being a localized issue.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the title parameter in the targeted PHP scripts, where the application fails to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied input before rendering it within web pages. This lack of input validation creates a direct pathway for attackers to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code that will execute in the browsers of unsuspecting users who visit affected pages. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, where the application does not properly neutralize user input before it is used in the generation of dynamic content. The attack vector requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous as it does not require authentication or direct system access to exploit. The impact is amplified by the fact that the vulnerability affects core functionality of the portal system, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-1504 extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to potentially compromise the entire user base of the Arab Portal 2.0 system. When users browse pages that contain maliciously injected scripts, their browsers execute the code as if it were legitimate content, creating a persistent threat that can be leveraged for session hijacking, data exfiltration, or even credential theft. The vulnerability's presence in both online.php and download.php suggests that the attack surface is broad and affects multiple application modules, potentially allowing attackers to compromise various user interactions within the portal environment. This vulnerability directly relates to the ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes the use of malicious content to gain initial access to systems through social engineering or direct exploitation of web application flaws. The attack could be particularly damaging in the Middle Eastern context where the portal was likely used for government, educational, or corporate communications, potentially affecting sensitive information or public services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-1504 must focus on immediate input validation and output encoding improvements within the affected application. The most effective remediation involves implementing proper parameter sanitization techniques that ensure all user input is thoroughly validated and escaped before being processed or displayed within web pages. This includes implementing Content Security Policy headers, utilizing proper HTML escaping functions, and ensuring that all dynamic content generation follows secure coding practices. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability's age and the fact that it affects an older version of the software system indicates that the most appropriate long-term solution involves upgrading to a supported version of the application or migrating to a more modern, secure platform. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify similar input validation flaws within other applications within their environment, as this type of vulnerability is commonly found in legacy systems that have not been properly updated or maintained according to industry standards such as those defined by OWASP and NIST.