CVE-2006-2269 in MyBloggie
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in myWebland MyBloggie 2.1.3 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a JavaScript event in a BBCode img tag.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2269 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within myWebland MyBloggie version 2.1.3 and earlier implementations. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of BBCode formatted content, specifically when processing img tags that contain JavaScript events. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft. The vulnerability operates by exploiting insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the blog platform's content rendering system, where user-supplied data containing malicious JavaScript code can be silently executed when the content is displayed to other users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper sanitization of BBCode elements, particularly the img tag attribute handling. When a user submits content containing an img tag with JavaScript event handlers such as onclick, onmouseover, or onerror, the application fails to properly escape or remove these dangerous attributes before rendering the content. This failure creates a persistent XSS vector where the malicious JavaScript code becomes embedded within the web page and executes whenever the page is viewed by other users. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the improper handling of user input that can lead to code injection attacks. The attack vector leverages the fact that BBCode parsers often do not adequately sanitize attributes that could contain executable JavaScript code, creating a pathway for attackers to bypass standard security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, defacement of blog content, or redirection to malicious websites. An attacker could craft malicious posts that, when viewed by other users, would execute code to steal cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or even modify the blog's content dynamically. The vulnerability affects all users who view affected content, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users contribute content or where administrators may inadvertently approve malicious posts. The attack requires minimal technical expertise to exploit, as it leverages existing BBCode functionality that is commonly used for image embedding. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for web applications that rely on user-generated content and do not implement robust input sanitization measures.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user input containing BBCode elements, particularly img tags, by removing or escaping JavaScript event attributes before content is stored or rendered. Implementing a whitelist-based approach for allowed attributes and values within BBCode tags can prevent malicious code injection while preserving legitimate functionality. Security measures should include the use of Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities, proper HTML encoding of all user-supplied content, and regular security audits of input processing functions. Organizations should also consider implementing automated scanning tools that can detect and prevent malicious BBCode patterns before they are stored in the database. The remediation process requires updating the application to a patched version that properly handles BBCode attribute validation or implementing custom sanitization routines that specifically address this vulnerability class. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Initial Access through malicious links or content injection, emphasizing the need for robust security measures in user-facing web applications.