CVE-2006-2252 in OpenFAQ
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in submit.php in OpenFAQ 0.4.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the q parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2017
The CVE-2006-2252 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the OpenFAQ 0.4.0 web application, specifically within the submit.php script. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user input through the q parameter, which is processed without proper sanitization or validation mechanisms. The issue stems from the application's failure to implement adequate input filtering techniques, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content directly into the application's response. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates at the user input processing layer, where untrusted data flows directly into the web page output without sufficient security controls to prevent code injection attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a standard XSS attack pattern where an attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or other HTML elements and submits them through the q parameter in the submit.php endpoint. When the application processes this input and renders it in the web response without proper encoding or sanitization, the injected script executes within the context of the victim's browser session. This creates a persistent security risk that can be leveraged for various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture, specifically in the input validation and output encoding phases of the data processing pipeline.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to both the application's integrity and user security. The ability to inject arbitrary scripts means that attackers can potentially execute malicious code in the browser context of legitimate users, leading to potential data breaches, unauthorized access to user accounts, and compromise of the application's security posture. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the OpenFAQ system, as it allows attackers to manipulate the application's behavior and potentially escalate privileges within the user context. The attack vector is particularly dangerous as it requires no special privileges or authentication, making it accessible to anyone who can access the vulnerable application interface.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a failure in proper input validation and output encoding practices. This weakness can be mapped to several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for social engineering and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage the vulnerability to execute malicious code and manipulate the target environment. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability exemplifies the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies, including proper input validation, output encoding, and regular security testing. Organizations should implement content security policies, utilize proper parameter validation, and ensure all user-supplied data is sanitized before being processed or displayed in web interfaces. The vulnerability also highlights the critical need for regular security assessments and timely patch management to prevent exploitation of known weaknesses in web applications.