CVE-2006-2176 in PHP Linkliste
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in links.php in PHP Linkliste 1.0b allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) new_input, (2) new_url, or (3) new_name parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2176 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the PHP Linkliste 1.0b web application. This issue affects the links.php script which processes user input for managing website links within the application. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter malicious content submitted by users. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious scripts or HTML code through three specific parameters: new_input, new_url, and new_name, which are used to add new links to the application's database.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. This particular implementation flaw occurs when user-supplied data is directly inserted into the application's output without appropriate sanitization measures. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims. The vulnerability exists because the application fails to implement proper input sanitization techniques such as HTML entity encoding or regular expression filtering for the specified parameters.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using PHP Linkliste 1.0b, as it enables attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. The impact extends beyond simple script injection since successful exploitation could allow attackers to modify link listings, redirect users to malicious sites, or even execute commands on the affected system if additional vulnerabilities exist. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the system or any local privileges, making it particularly attractive to attackers seeking to compromise multiple users simultaneously. This vulnerability can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute malicious scripts through web interfaces.
Organizations should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves implementing strict input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in form submissions. The application should employ HTML entity encoding for all dynamic content before rendering it in web pages, ensuring that any potentially malicious scripts are rendered harmless. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional defensive layer against script execution. Regular security updates and patches should be applied to ensure that all known vulnerabilities are addressed, while input validation should be strengthened to reject or sanitize any non-alphanumeric characters in URL and name fields. The implementation of proper access controls and monitoring for unusual activities in the link management section can also help detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider conducting regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications within their infrastructure.