CVE-2006-1946 in Visale
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Visale 1.0 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the keyval parameter in pbpgst.cgi, (2) the catsubno parameter in pblscg.cgi, and (3) the listno parameter in pblsmb.cgi.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-1946 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting Visale version 1.0 and earlier systems. This flaw resides within three distinct CGI scripts that handle user input without proper sanitization, creating persistent entry points for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML content within victim browsers. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental failure in input validation and output encoding practices that were prevalent in web applications during the mid-2000s era.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through three specific parameter injection points within the affected web application. The keyval parameter in pbpgst.cgi serves as the first vector where attacker-controlled data can be injected and subsequently executed in the context of a victim's browser session. Similarly, the catsubno parameter in pblscg.cgi and the listno parameter in pblsmb.cgi provide additional attack surfaces where malicious input can bypass security controls. These parameters likely represent configuration values or list identifiers that are directly incorporated into dynamic web page content without appropriate HTML escaping or sanitization mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations utilizing Visale systems, as remote attackers can leverage these XSS flaws to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, or redirect victims to malicious websites. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as attackers can potentially execute persistent malicious code that modifies the application's behavior or compromises the integrity of user interactions. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-79 indicates a classic insecure direct object reference pattern where user-supplied data flows directly into web output without proper validation or encoding, aligning with common attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under technique T1566 for credential access and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage.
The exploitation of these vulnerabilities typically involves crafting malicious payloads that contain JavaScript code or HTML tags designed to execute within the context of legitimate user sessions. Attackers can leverage these flaws to perform session hijacking, deface web pages, or redirect users to phishing sites that appear legitimate. The persistent nature of these vulnerabilities means they remain exploitable as long as the affected software versions are deployed, creating ongoing security risks for organizations that fail to update their systems. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability type represents a foundational web application security issue that requires comprehensive input validation and output encoding controls to prevent unauthorized script execution in user browsers.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-1946 should focus on immediate patching of affected Visale systems to version 1.1 or later, which would contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation measures across all CGI scripts, ensuring that user-supplied parameters undergo strict sanitization before being incorporated into web page content. The implementation of proper HTML encoding and output sanitization mechanisms represents the most effective defense against this class of vulnerability. Additionally, deployment of web application firewalls and security monitoring systems can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should verify that no other similar vulnerabilities exist within the application's codebase. The remediation process should also include comprehensive staff training on secure coding practices to prevent similar issues from emerging in future development cycles, particularly focusing on the importance of input validation and output encoding as core security controls.