CVE-2006-1945 in awstats
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in awstats.pl in AWStats 6.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the config parameter. NOTE: this might be the same core issue as CVE-2005-2732.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1945 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the AWStats web analytics tool version 6.5 and earlier. This issue resides in the awstats.pl script which processes user input through the config parameter without proper sanitization or validation. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting attacks where untrusted data is incorporated into web page content without appropriate escaping or validation mechanisms. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious scripts or HTML code that executes in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected web pages.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within the config parameter of the awstats.pl script. When a victim accesses this specially crafted URL, the web application fails to properly sanitize the input, allowing the injected code to execute in the victim's browser session. This creates a persistent threat where attackers can steal session cookies, deface web pages, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the critical importance of sanitizing all user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks within web applications. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566.001 for spearphishing via email, as attackers can leverage the XSS to deliver additional payloads or establish persistent access. Organizations using affected AWStats versions face significant risk of data compromise, as the vulnerability allows attackers to access sensitive session information and potentially escalate privileges within the web application environment. The impact is particularly severe in environments where AWStats is used to monitor critical systems or where users have elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-1945 involve immediate patching of AWStats to version 6.6 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and sanitization. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious input patterns targeting the config parameter. Additionally, input validation should be enforced at multiple layers including client-side and server-side validation, with proper HTML escaping applied to all dynamic content. Security headers such as Content Security Policy should be implemented to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of keeping all web applications updated and following secure coding practices that prevent injection attacks through proper parameter validation and sanitization.