CVE-2006-1850 in xFlow
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in xFlow 5.46.11 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) level, (2) position, (3) id, and (4) action parameters to members_only/index.cgi, and the (5) page parameter to customer_area/index.cgi.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1850 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting xFlow versions 5.46.11 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the web application's input validation mechanisms, specifically within the members_only/index.cgi and customer_area/index.cgi scripts. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of victim browsers by manipulating specific parameters in HTTP requests. The affected parameters include level, position, id, action, and page, which are processed without proper sanitization or encoding, creating persistent entry points for malicious code injection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the xFlow application framework. When user-supplied data flows through these parameters to the web server, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This processing gap creates a condition where attackers can inject malicious payloads that execute in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, making it a classic example of improper input handling in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with persistent access to user sessions and potentially sensitive data within the xFlow application environment. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to establish unauthorized access to member areas, manipulate user permissions, or extract confidential information from the application's database. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web-based applications. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering through malicious content injection, and T1071 which addresses application layer protocol usage for command and control communications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-1850 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding across all user-supplied parameters within the affected scripts. This includes sanitizing all input values before processing and ensuring that any output rendered to browsers properly escapes special characters to prevent HTML interpretation. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and employ regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities. The most effective approach involves upgrading to xFlow versions 5.46.12 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the input validation deficiencies. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and security monitoring systems can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts while maintaining operational continuity during the remediation process.