CVE-2006-1583 in Warcraft III Replay Parser PHP
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in Warcraft III Replay Parser for PHP 1.8c allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the page parameter. NOTE: post-disclosure analysis by CVE suggests that the "page" parameter is not used in this product, and "id" might be the affected parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-1583 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Warcraft III Replay Parser for PHP version 1.8c. 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 in the index.php file when processing user input through the page parameter, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The security implications are significant as XSS vulnerabilities can enable attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input from the page parameter before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages. This lack of input validation creates an environment where attacker-controlled data can be seamlessly integrated into the application's output, allowing malicious code execution in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, and data manipulation. The fact that the vulnerability is remote in nature means attackers can exploit it without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in web applications where users interact with untrusted content.
Security researchers have noted that the initial vulnerability description may have been imprecise regarding the exact parameter affected, with post-disclosure analysis suggesting that the id parameter might actually be the vulnerable element rather than the page parameter. This highlights the importance of thorough vulnerability analysis and the potential for initial assessments to misidentify the precise attack vector. The operational impact of this vulnerability within the Warcraft III Replay Parser context is particularly concerning as it affects a web-based application that users might access from various devices and networks. The parser's functionality, which handles replay files from the popular real-time strategy game, creates a legitimate use case where users might encounter malicious content through seemingly benign file processing activities. This vulnerability demonstrates how even specialized applications can contain fundamental web security flaws that expose users to various attack vectors.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper validation routines that filter out potentially malicious content before processing. Additionally, developers should implement proper output encoding techniques to ensure that any dynamic content generated from user input is properly escaped to prevent script execution. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. From a defensive standpoint, this vulnerability underscores the necessity of following secure coding practices and conducting regular security assessments of web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under the T1059.001 technique for command and scripting interpreter, specifically focusing on the execution of malicious scripts through web interfaces. Organizations should prioritize updating vulnerable applications to patched versions and implementing comprehensive web application security testing procedures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future releases.