CVE-2006-2089 in MySmartBB
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in misc.php in MySmartBB 1.1.x allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) id and (2) username parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2089 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in the MySmartBB 1.1.x content management system. This flaw exists within the misc.php script and affects multiple parameters including id and username, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors seeking to exploit web application security flaws. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the MySmartBB application. When users submit data through the id and username parameters, the application fails to properly sanitize or encode this input before processing or displaying it within web pages. This insufficient validation creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that executes in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows remote code execution without requiring authentication, making it accessible to anyone who can interact with the vulnerable application interface.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-2089 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. The attack vector operates entirely through web-based interfaces, making it difficult to detect and trace back to the source. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments and T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter for JavaScript execution. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of user data, potentially compromising user sessions and sensitive information stored within the MySmartBB system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding measures. Organizations should implement strict parameter validation to ensure that all inputs are properly sanitized before processing, particularly for parameters like id and username that are directly used in dynamic content generation. The recommended approach involves applying proper HTML entity encoding to all user-supplied data before displaying it in web pages, which prevents malicious scripts from executing in the browser context. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application codebase. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping web applications updated with the latest security patches and following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. Organizations using MySmartBB 1.1.x should urgently upgrade to patched versions or implement web application firewalls to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.