CVE-2006-2497 in AspBB
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in AspBB 0.5.2 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) action parameter to default.asp or (2) get parameter to profile.asp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2497 affects AspBB version 0.5.2, a web-based bulletin board system implemented using classic asp technology. This particular flaw represents a classic cross-site scripting vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability manifests in two distinct attack vectors within the application's parameter handling mechanisms, specifically targeting the action parameter in the default.asp script and the get parameter in the profile.asp script. These parameters fail to properly validate or sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content, creating exploitable injection points that can be leveraged by malicious actors to compromise user sessions and potentially escalate their privileges within the application environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the AspBB application codebase. When users submit requests containing malicious payloads through the affected parameters, the application processes these inputs without adequate sanitization measures. The action parameter in default.asp and the get parameter in profile.asp are directly incorporated into the application's response without proper HTML escaping or context-appropriate encoding, allowing attackers to inject malicious script code that executes in the victim's browser context. This flaw aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities arising from inadequate input validation and output sanitization. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects core application functionality where users naturally interact with parameters, making exploitation relatively straightforward and potentially widespread across all users of the affected bulletin board system.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-2497 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration from authenticated users. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when clicked by unsuspecting users, execute in their browser context and potentially steal session cookies or other sensitive information. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to modify the application's user interface, redirect users to malicious websites, or even inject content that appears to originate from the legitimate bulletin board system, thereby undermining user trust and potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script injection techniques and T1566 for social engineering via malicious web content, making it a significant threat vector that can be exploited as part of broader attack campaigns targeting web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-2497 must focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the AspBB application. The most effective remediation involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters before processing them, implementing strict input validation that rejects malformed or potentially malicious content, and ensuring that all output is properly encoded for the appropriate context. Developers should implement context-aware encoding for html, javascript, and url parameters to prevent injection attacks. Additionally, the application should enforce proper access controls and implement security headers such as Content Security Policy to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their web infrastructure. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and output encoding practices in web application development, particularly for legacy systems that may not have been designed with modern security considerations in mind.