CVE-2006-1701 in Shadowed Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Pages module in Shadowed Portal allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the page parameter to load.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1701 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Pages module of the Shadowed Portal web application. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting attacks where malicious scripts are injected into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability exists in the way the application processes user input through the page parameter in the load.php script, creating an exploitable vector for remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML code through the page parameter, which is then rendered without proper sanitization or encoding. When a victim accesses a page that contains the malicious payload, the injected script executes in their browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices where user-supplied data flows directly into the application's output without appropriate security measures such as output encoding or content security policies.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities within the compromised user's browser context. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify page content, or even perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the system or any local privileges, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that serve multiple users with varying levels of access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly parameters like the page parameter in this case, before processing or rendering them in web pages. Implementing proper content security policies and using frameworks that automatically escape output can significantly reduce the risk of XSS exploitation. Additionally, regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.
This vulnerability aligns with several tactics outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to initial access through web application attacks and privilege escalation via session manipulation. The attack chain typically begins with reconnaissance to identify vulnerable applications, followed by crafting malicious payloads targeting the specific input parameter, and concluding with successful exploitation that can lead to persistent access or data exfiltration. Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability and implementing comprehensive web application security measures to prevent similar issues across their application portfolio.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in web application security. Modern security frameworks and development practices emphasize the need for defense-in-depth strategies that include multiple layers of protection against XSS attacks. Regular security training for developers, implementation of secure coding standards, and integration of security testing into the development lifecycle are essential components of a comprehensive security posture that can prevent vulnerabilities like CVE-2006-1701 from occurring in the first place.