CVE-2006-1968 in Portal Pack
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in news/NsVisitor.cgi in KCScripts News Publisher, distributed individually and as part of Portal Pack 6.0 and earlier, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the sort_order parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2021
The CVE-2006-1968 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the KCScripts News Publisher software, specifically within the news/NsVisitor.cgi component. This vulnerability exists in versions distributed individually and as part of Portal Pack 6.0 and earlier, making it a widespread concern for organizations utilizing legacy web publishing solutions. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input passed through the sort_order parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage this weakness to inject malicious payloads that execute in victim browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the NsVisitor.cgi script processes the sort_order parameter without adequate input validation or output encoding. When users interact with the news publishing system and provide malicious input through this parameter, the application incorporates the unvalidated data directly into dynamically generated web pages. This allows attackers to craft payloads that, when executed, can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or defacing the web content. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the user interface level, where legitimate users expect to interact with safe content, making the attack vector both subtle and effective.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-1968 extends beyond simple data theft or content defacement. Organizations running affected versions of KCScripts News Publisher face significant risks including credential theft through session hijacking, where attackers can capture user authentication tokens and impersonate legitimate users. The vulnerability can also enable more sophisticated attacks such as phishing campaigns where malicious scripts redirect users to fraudulent websites that appear legitimate. Additionally, the compromised system can serve as a launching point for further attacks within the network, as attackers may use the compromised web application to establish persistent access or to scan internal network resources. The long-term implications include potential reputational damage, regulatory compliance violations, and financial losses from data breaches or service disruption.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the affected software to the latest available version that addresses the input validation flaw. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization techniques, including the use of allowlists for parameter values and comprehensive output encoding for all dynamic content. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by restricting the permissions of the web application and ensuring that the sort_order parameter accepts only predefined valid values. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring and filtering traffic patterns associated with XSS attacks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the web infrastructure, particularly given the age of the affected software and the likelihood of other unpatched vulnerabilities existing in legacy systems.