CVE-2006-2359 in phpBB
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in charts.php in the Chart mod for phpBB allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the id parameter. NOTE: this issue might be resultant from SQL injection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-2359 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Chart mod for phpBB, specifically affecting the charts.php script. This issue arises from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly handle user-supplied data. The vulnerability manifests when attackers exploit the id parameter, which serves as an entry point for injecting malicious web scripts or HTML content directly into the application's response. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the affected system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a weakness where applications fail to properly validate or escape user input before incorporating it into dynamic content. The vulnerability's classification as a potential SQL injection derivative suggests that the underlying flaw may stem from inadequate data sanitization practices that affect both input validation and output encoding mechanisms. This dual nature of the vulnerability creates a particularly dangerous scenario where attackers could potentially leverage the XSS vector to first gain information about the database structure and then execute more sophisticated attacks against the backend systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with persistent access to user sessions and potentially sensitive forum data. When users view pages that contain malicious content injected through the vulnerable id parameter, their browsers execute the embedded scripts, which could redirect them to malicious sites, steal cookies, or perform actions on their behalf without their knowledge. The phpBB forum environment makes this particularly concerning as forum administrators and users may be exposed to attacks that could compromise entire user bases, especially if the forum contains sensitive discussions or personal information. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used forum software platform amplifies its potential impact across multiple organizations and user communities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms that prevent malicious data from being processed or displayed. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user inputs, particularly those used in dynamic content generation, through proper escaping techniques that neutralize potential script injection attempts. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities and establish proper parameter validation that rejects or filters out suspicious input patterns. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the phpBB installation. The remediation process should include updating to patched versions of the Chart mod, implementing proper input validation frameworks, and establishing monitoring systems to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security professionals should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malicious requests targeting this specific vulnerability pattern.