CVE-2006-1801 in planetSearch+
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in planetsearchplus.php in planetSearch+ allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the search_exp parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1801 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the planetSearch+ web application's planetsearchplus.php component. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of user input through the search_exp parameter, which fails to properly sanitize or validate data before incorporating it into web responses. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 as an improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a direct threat to web application security and user data integrity.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers submit malicious script code through the search_exp parameter in the planetsearchplus.php script. When the application processes this input without adequate sanitization measures, the injected code becomes part of the dynamic web page content served to unsuspecting users. This creates a persistent XSS vector where any user who views the affected page or interacts with the search results will execute the malicious code within their browser context. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be leveraged to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or theft. Attackers can exploit this weakness to establish persistent footholds within the application environment, potentially compromising user sessions and gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in web-facing applications. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can enable more sophisticated attacks such as those categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting and T1531 for implantation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding before incorporating it into web page content. Additionally, implementing a content security policy can help prevent execution of unauthorized scripts even if the vulnerability is exploited. The application should also employ proper parameter validation and consider implementing a web application firewall to detect and block malicious input patterns. Security practitioners should also consider adopting secure coding practices that align with OWASP Top Ten recommendations and ensure that all user inputs are properly validated before processing to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in future releases.