CVE-2006-1697 in Matt Wright Guestbook
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Matt Wright Guestbook 2.3.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) Your Name, (2) E-Mail, or (3) Comments fields when posting a message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1697 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within Matt Wright Guestbook version 2.3.1, a widely used web application for managing guestbook entries on websites. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which specifically addresses Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, commonly known as XSS. The flaw exists in the guestbook's input validation mechanisms, where user-supplied data is not adequately sanitized before being rendered back to other users browsing the guestbook entries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through three specific input fields within the guestbook submission form: the "Your Name" field, the "E-Mail" field, and the "Comments" field. When an attacker submits malicious content through any of these fields, the web application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows malicious scripts to be injected into the guestbook entries, which are then executed in the browsers of other visitors who view these entries. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects fields that are commonly used and visible to all users, making the attack surface quite broad.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of the guestbook, and redirection to malicious websites. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, and T1531 for Account Access Through Web Applications. The attack vector is straightforward and requires minimal technical expertise, making it particularly dangerous in environments where guestbook applications are widely used and maintained by less security-conscious administrators.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user input by removing or escaping potentially dangerous characters such as angle brackets, quotation marks, and script tags before storing or displaying the data. Additionally, implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) header can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Organizations should also consider migrating to more modern guestbook solutions or implementing proper web application firewalls to detect and prevent such attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and highlights how seemingly simple flaws can have significant security implications.