CVE-2006-1818 in warforge.NEWS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in warforge.NEWS 1.0 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, possibly including the (1) first_name and (2) last_name parameter in myaccounts.php. NOTE: portions of these details were obtained from third party sources instead of the original disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1818 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness discovered in warforge.NEWS version 1.0, a web-based news management system that was prevalent during the mid-2000s era of web application development. This particular vulnerability falls under the broader category of CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into web page content. The security flaw manifests in the application's inability to adequately validate and escape user-supplied data, creating opportunities for malicious actors to inject harmful scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of specific HTTP parameters within the myaccounts.php script, particularly targeting the first_name and last_name parameters. When users submit data through these fields without proper input sanitization, the application fails to implement adequate output encoding or validation mechanisms. This allows attackers to embed malicious JavaScript code or HTML content within the user input fields, which then gets executed in the context of other users' browsers when the affected web page is rendered. The vulnerability's classification as a reflected XSS issue indicates that the malicious payload is reflected back to users through the web application's response, making it particularly dangerous for session hijacking and credential theft operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-1818 extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code within the browser context of authenticated users. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 Lateral Tool Transfer and T1566 Phishing, as attackers can craft malicious payloads that redirect users to compromised pages or steal session cookies. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects user account management functionality, which typically requires authentication and may contain sensitive user information. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to escalate privileges, steal user credentials, or perform actions on behalf of legitimate users, potentially compromising the entire user base of the affected application.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should encompass multiple defensive layers, beginning with immediate input validation and output encoding implementations. The application should employ strict parameter validation for all user inputs, particularly those used in dynamic web page generation contexts, and implement proper HTML entity encoding before rendering any user-supplied content. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. The remediation process must include comprehensive code review to identify all input vectors that could be exploited, as the vulnerability description indicates there may be additional unspecified attack vectors beyond the first_name and last_name parameters. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in legacy applications, as this vulnerability demonstrates the common oversight in web application security during the early 2000s development cycle. The vulnerability serves as a historical example of why robust input validation and output encoding should be fundamental components of all web application security designs, particularly in systems handling user account information and personal data.