CVE-2006-2545 in Xtreme Topsites
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Xtreme Topsites 1.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) id parameter in stats.php and (2) unspecified inputs in lostid.php, probably the searchthis parameter. NOTE: one or more of these vectors might be resultant from SQL injection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2017
The CVE-2006-2545 vulnerability affects Xtreme Topsites version 1.1, a web application designed for managing top sites lists. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that exposes the application to cross-site scripting attacks, potentially allowing malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the context of users' browsers. The vulnerability manifests through multiple attack vectors that compromise the application's input validation mechanisms and user session integrity.
The technical flaw resides in the insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input parameters within the application's PHP scripts. Specifically, the id parameter in stats.php fails to properly validate or escape user input before incorporating it into dynamic web page content. Additionally, the lostid.php script contains unspecified input handling issues that likely involve the searchthis parameter, though the exact implementation details remain unclear. These vulnerabilities create opportunities for attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the victim's browser when the affected pages are accessed. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79, which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, and potentially CWE-89 for SQL injection components that may be present in the same attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities to steal user authentication cookies, modify website content, or redirect users to phishing sites that appear legitimate. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that serve a wide user base. This vulnerability essentially undermines the trust model of the web application by allowing unauthenticated attackers to execute code within users' browser contexts, potentially leading to complete account compromise and data exfiltration.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user input parameters before they are processed or displayed in web pages, particularly the id parameter in stats.php and the searchthis parameter in lostid.php. Implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all dynamic content prevents script execution in browser contexts. Additionally, the application should employ parameterized queries to address potential SQL injection components that may be present in the same attack vectors, as indicated by the vulnerability description. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to add an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other application components, following the principles of secure coding practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework guidelines.