CVE-2006-2195 in Horde
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in horde 3 (horde3) before 3.1.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) templates/problem/problem.inc and (2) test.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2018
The CVE-2006-2195 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Horde 3 web application framework prior to version 3.1.1. This vulnerability exists within the application's handling of user input in specific template files, creating a significant security risk for web applications that utilize the Horde 3 framework. The flaw specifically affects the templates/problem/problem.inc and test.php components, which are commonly used in web applications for displaying problem reports and testing functionalities. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or complete session hijacking. This issue falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that has been consistently ranked among the top security risks in the OWASP Top Ten project.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the Horde 3 framework fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before rendering it within HTML templates. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable application, get executed in the browsers of other users who access the affected pages. The attack vector specifically targets the template processing mechanisms where input from external sources is directly incorporated into web page content without adequate validation or encoding. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects core framework components that are likely to be used in various application contexts, amplifying the potential impact across different web applications built on the Horde 3 platform. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate output encoding, which are fundamental security principles that should be implemented at every layer of web application development.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-2195 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or even execute arbitrary commands on behalf of authenticated users. This vulnerability essentially allows attackers to impersonate legitimate users within the web application environment, potentially gaining access to sensitive data, modifying application behavior, or using the compromised user's privileges for further attacks. The attack can be executed through various means including email links, forum posts, or any other method that allows an attacker to inject malicious content into the application's data flow. The vulnerability affects not only the end users but also administrators who might be tricked into executing malicious scripts, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-2195 should prioritize immediate application updates to version 3.1.1 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation at all entry points, ensuring that any user-supplied data is properly escaped before being rendered in HTML contexts. The application should employ context-aware output encoding, which varies the encoding method based on where the data will be displayed such as in HTML attributes, JavaScript contexts, or CSS. Security teams should also implement web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communications and credential access, as attackers can use the XSS flaw to establish persistent access to user sessions. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application stack, as the root cause often reflects broader security implementation gaps that require comprehensive remediation strategies.