CVE-2006-1713 in phpMyForum
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in Christoph Roeder phpMyForum 4.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the page parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1713 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the phpMyForum 4.0 web application, specifically affecting the index.php script. This issue resides in the handling of user input through the page parameter, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute unauthorized code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting attacks where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or sanitization. This weakness enables attackers to inject malicious scripts that can persist and affect multiple users who access the compromised forum.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within the page parameter and distributes it to forum users. When victims navigate to the specially crafted link, the phpMyForum application fails to properly sanitize or encode the input before rendering it in the web page context. This allows the injected script to execute in the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation mechanisms within the application's parameter handling logic, particularly in how the page parameter is processed and displayed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors within the forum environment. Attackers could leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, modify forum content, or redirect users to phishing sites that mimic legitimate forum interfaces. The persistent nature of stored XSS vulnerabilities means that once exploited, the malicious code can affect all users who encounter the compromised page until the vulnerability is patched. This creates a significant risk for forum administrators and users alike, as the attack can be executed through various means including email links, forum posts, or even social engineering campaigns that encourage users to click on malicious content.
Security practitioners should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, including input validation, output encoding, and the implementation of Content Security Policy headers. The recommended remediation involves sanitizing all user-provided input parameters, particularly those used in dynamic page rendering contexts, and ensuring that any data passed through the page parameter is properly encoded before being displayed. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious script injection attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage XSS to execute malicious scripts within the target environment. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the fundamental security principle that all user input must be treated as untrusted and properly validated before processing or display.