CVE-2006-2500 in CodeAvalanche News
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in add_news.asp in CodeAvalanche News (CANews) 1.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Headline field. NOTE: if this issue is limited to administrators, and if it is expected behavior for administrators to be able to generate HTML, then this is not a vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2500 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the CodeAvalanche News (CANews) content management system version 1.2. This vulnerability specifically targets the add_news.asp component where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered back to users. The vulnerability occurs in the Headline field processing, where malicious actors can inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code that executes in the context of other users' browsers. The security implications are significant as this allows attackers to potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly integrated into web pages without proper validation or escaping.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft malicious input containing script tags or other HTML elements within the Headline field during news item creation. When administrators or other users view the affected news item, the injected code executes in their browser context, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data exfiltration. The vulnerability's impact is amplified when considering that administrators are typically trusted users with elevated privileges, making successful exploitation potentially more dangerous. However, the vulnerability classification depends on whether administrators should be able to generate HTML content within the system, as noted in the original description. If this behavior is intended and expected, then the vulnerability may not be classified as such according to security best practices, but rather as an intentional feature that requires proper implementation of content sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it represents a fundamental security weakness in input validation and output encoding practices. Organizations using CANews 1.2 may face reputational damage, data breaches, or unauthorized access to administrative functions if this vulnerability is exploited successfully. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the news management system, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate content, redirect users, or establish persistent access through session hijacking. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 (Phishing via Social Engineering) and T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) as attackers can leverage the XSS to deliver malicious payloads or establish command and control channels. The vulnerability also represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and proper input sanitization, which are fundamental security controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-2500 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly in fields where HTML content is expected, using libraries or functions that properly escape special characters and validate content against allowed patterns. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Additionally, the system should enforce proper access controls and user role management to ensure that only authorized individuals can create content, while also implementing proper logging and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security updates and patches should be applied to address known vulnerabilities in third-party components. The vulnerability also highlights the need for comprehensive security training for developers regarding secure coding practices and the importance of validating all user inputs regardless of the expected data type.