CVE-2006-1665 in Arab Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Arab Portal 2.0.1 stable allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) adminJump and (2) forum_middle parameters in (a) forum.php, and the (3) form parameter in (b) members.php, (c) pm.php, and (d) mail.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2017
The CVE-2006-1665 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Arab Portal 2.0.1 stable, a web-based content management system that was widely used in the mid-2000s. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The vulnerability affects multiple parameters across different script files, specifically targeting the adminJump and forum_middle parameters in forum.php, along with the form parameter in members.php, pm.php, and mail.php, creating a widespread attack surface for malicious actors. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution vector means that attackers can exploit it without requiring local system access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous for web applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the Arab Portal application's parameter handling mechanisms. When users interact with the affected scripts, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code, HTML content, or other harmful scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The specific parameters mentioned in the vulnerability description represent entry points where user input flows directly into the application's response without proper encoding or validation. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple files indicates a systemic flaw in the application's security architecture rather than isolated incidents, suggesting that the developers did not implement consistent input sanitization practices throughout the codebase.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-1665 is substantial and multifaceted, potentially enabling attackers to perform various malicious activities through the compromised web application. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface web pages, or even escalate privileges within the application. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly, as the malicious code injected into the web application can affect all users who access the affected pages. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning for portal-style applications that serve multiple users and contain sensitive information, as it can facilitate data theft, unauthorized access to user accounts, and potential compromise of the entire web application infrastructure. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that multiple scripts are affected, increasing the likelihood that an attacker can find a successful exploitation path.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper parameter validation, implementing strict whitelisting of acceptable input characters, and applying appropriate HTML encoding to all dynamic content before rendering. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parameters or files. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1566, which describes the use of malicious web content to compromise systems, and T1059, which involves the execution of code through web-based interfaces. Additionally, implementing a web application firewall and conducting regular security training for developers can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future code releases, as this issue represents a classic example of poor secure coding practices that should be addressed through comprehensive security development lifecycle implementation.