CVE-2006-1815 in Bulletin Board
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in register.php in Tritanium Bulletin Board (TBB) 1.2.3 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) newuser_realname and (2) newuser_icq parameters, a different vector than CVE-2006-1768. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1815 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness discovered in the Tritanium Bulletin Board version 1.2.3 software. This issue specifically affects the register.php component of the application, which serves as the user registration interface for the bulletin board system. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's registration process, creating exploitable entry points for malicious actors seeking to inject harmful code into the web application. The flaw manifests through two distinct parameter injection vectors, namely newuser_realname and newuser_icq, which are used to collect user information during the registration process. These parameters are particularly susceptible because the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages, thereby allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws where applications fail to properly validate or escape user-controllable input before including it in web pages served to other users. The attack vector operates through the injection of malicious HTML or JavaScript code into the vulnerable parameters, which are then rendered in the web browser when other users view the affected content or interact with the bulletin board interface. When users submit registration data containing crafted malicious payloads in the realname or icq fields, these inputs are stored in the database without proper sanitization. Subsequently, when other users access the bulletin board or view user profiles, the malicious code executes in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability differs from CVE-2006-1768 in that it targets different input parameters, indicating a broader class of injection flaws within the registration module rather than a single point of failure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or user inconvenience, as it provides attackers with persistent access to the bulletin board environment through the exploitation of legitimate user sessions. An attacker could craft malicious registration entries that, when viewed by other users, would execute scripts to steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform other malicious activities that compromise the integrity and security of the entire bulletin board system. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the platform by enabling unauthorized code execution in user browsers, potentially allowing attackers to gain control over user accounts or manipulate the bulletin board's content. Given that bulletin boards typically contain user-generated content and personal information, the exploitation of this vulnerability could result in widespread compromise of user identities and private communications within the forum environment. The long-term implications include potential data breaches, reputational damage to the platform administrators, and the possibility of the vulnerability being used as a stepping stone for more extensive attacks against the underlying infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-1815 should prioritize immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the bulletin board's registration process. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user inputs through strict validation rules that reject or escape potentially dangerous characters and sequences before storing or displaying user data. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts even if input validation fails. The system administrators should also consider upgrading to a newer version of the Tritanium Bulletin Board software that addresses these vulnerabilities, as version 1.2.3 appears to be outdated and likely contains additional unpatched security flaws. Regular security audits and penetration testing of web applications should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses in other components of the platform. The implementation of proper parameterized queries and input sanitization routines should be enforced across all user input fields, particularly those that are displayed in user contexts or used in dynamic content generation. Additionally, employing web application firewalls and monitoring systems can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting these specific XSS vectors. Organizations should also implement user education programs to raise awareness about the risks of visiting untrusted bulletin board sites and the importance of maintaining updated browser security settings to protect against such vulnerabilities.