CVE-2006-2803 in PHP ManualMaker
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in PHP ManualMaker 1.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) id parameter to index.php, (2) search field (possibly the s parameter), or (3) comment field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2803 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within PHP ManualMaker version 1.0, a documentation generation tool that was widely used for creating manual pages for php.net. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's processing logic, specifically affecting three distinct input vectors that collectively expose the system to malicious code injection attacks. The flaw manifests when user-supplied data is directly incorporated into web responses without proper encoding or filtering, creating an environment where attackers can execute arbitrary scripts in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves three primary attack vectors that all share the common weakness of insufficient parameter validation. The first vector targets the id parameter in the index.php script where user input flows directly into the application's output generation without proper sanitization. The second vector exploits the search functionality, potentially through the s parameter, while the third vector targets comment fields where user-generated content bypasses security checks. These vulnerabilities fall under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing stored or reflected XSS variants depending on how the malicious content is processed and delivered. The attack surface is broad as these parameters are typically accessible through standard web forms and URL parameters, making exploitation relatively straightforward for attackers with basic web security knowledge.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, creating a significant risk for users of the PHP ManualMaker application. When exploited, these XSS vulnerabilities enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject malicious content that could compromise the integrity of the documentation system. The implications are particularly severe for a documentation platform like PHP ManualMaker where users trust the content and may be accessing it from corporate networks or development environments where additional security controls may not be present. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to establish persistent malicious presence within the application's user base, potentially affecting thousands of developers who rely on the documentation system for their work.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address the fundamental input validation failures within PHP ManualMaker 1.0. Organizations should implement proper output encoding for all user-supplied content before rendering it in web pages, utilizing context-specific encoding mechanisms such as HTML entity encoding for content displayed in HTML contexts. The application should enforce strict input validation rules that reject or sanitize potentially dangerous characters and patterns commonly associated with XSS attacks. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed within the application's context. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) and T1566 (Phishing), as it enables attackers to deliver malicious JavaScript payloads to unsuspecting users. The remediation process should include thorough code review to ensure all input parameters are properly sanitized and that the application follows secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and similar security frameworks.