CVE-2006-2146 in HB-NS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in index.php in HB-NS 1.1.6 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) poster_name, (2) poster_email, (3) poster_homepage, or (4) message parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2146 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the HB-NS 1.1.6 content management system that exposes multiple entry points for malicious code injection. This vulnerability resides within the index.php file and affects four distinct parameters including poster_name, poster_email, poster_homepage, and message, creating multiple vectors through which attackers can exploit the system. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter or escape user-supplied data before rendering it within web pages. According to CWE-79, this vulnerability directly maps to the classic cross-site scripting weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding, making it susceptible to malicious script execution in the context of the victim's browser.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display manipulation, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of legitimate user sessions. When an attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or other executable code within any of the four vulnerable parameters, the system fails to sanitize this input before displaying it to other users. This creates a persistent threat where users who view affected content become unwitting participants in executing attacker-controlled scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability operates under the ATT&CK framework's technique T1566, specifically targeting the initial access phase through malicious web content delivery.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical sophistication, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user-generated content is common. Attackers can leverage the flaw by submitting malicious payloads through the forum or posting interface, where the system's failure to validate inputs allows the scripts to execute when other users view the content. The persistence of the vulnerability across multiple parameters increases the attack surface significantly, as different vectors provide alternative paths for exploitation depending on the specific implementation details. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with the broader category of injection flaws and represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's data sanitization processes. Organizations utilizing HB-NS 1.1.6 or similar systems should prioritize immediate remediation through input validation implementation, output encoding, and proper parameter sanitization to prevent unauthorized code execution. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing comprehensive security measures at all data entry points and highlights the necessity of following secure coding practices to prevent such widespread injection vulnerabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability showcases how insufficient data validation can create cascading security risks within web applications. The system's failure to properly escape or validate user inputs creates a persistent threat model where any user with access to the affected parameters can introduce malicious code that executes in the browser context of other users. This particular vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, representing a cross-site request forgery risk when combined with the XSS capability, as attackers can manipulate user sessions through the executed scripts. The impact extends beyond immediate script execution to potential privilege escalation or data exfiltration, particularly in environments where users have elevated access levels. Mitigation strategies should include comprehensive input validation, output encoding, and implementation of Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. Organizations should also implement regular security assessments and input sanitization protocols to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future versions of the software.