CVE-2006-2808 in htmlGEAR guestGEAR
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Lycos Tripod htmlGEAR guestGEAR (aka Guest Gear) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a guestbook post containing a javascript URI in the SRC attribute of the BR element after an extra "iframe" tagname within that element, followed by a double ">", which might bypass cleansing operations.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-2808 represents a sophisticated cross-site scripting flaw within Lycos Tripod htmlGEAR guestGEAR application, commonly referred to as Guest Gear. This vulnerability specifically targets the guestbook functionality of the web application, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw demonstrates the classic characteristics of XSS vulnerabilities where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to end users, enabling attackers to inject malicious code that persists in the application's database and executes when other users view the affected content.
The technical mechanism of this vulnerability involves a specific payload construction technique that exploits the application's input validation and sanitization processes. Attackers can craft malicious guestbook posts containing javascript URIs within the SRC attribute of BR elements, utilizing an unconventional approach that includes an extra "iframe" tagname within that element followed by double ">>" characters. This particular construction method appears to specifically target weaknesses in the application's HTML sanitization routines, which may not adequately detect or neutralize such obfuscated payloads. The vulnerability exploits the fact that the application's cleansing operations fail to properly handle this specific sequence of characters and tag structures, allowing malicious code to bypass security measures and remain undetected during input processing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates persistent security risks for all users interacting with the affected guestbook functionality. When victims view the malicious guestbook entries, their browsers execute the injected javascript code, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability's persistence stems from the fact that the malicious content is stored in the application's database, meaning that the attack vector remains active until the malicious entries are manually removed or the application's input validation is patched. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where guestbook functionality is widely used and where administrators may not regularly monitor user-submitted content for malicious payloads.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, and it demonstrates techniques that would be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript. The attack vector represents a classic example of how improper input validation and sanitization can create persistent security weaknesses that affect multiple users simultaneously. Organizations deploying similar web applications should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding strategies, including the use of Content Security Policy headers and proper HTML escaping mechanisms to prevent such vulnerabilities from being exploited. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and input validation testing to identify and remediate obfuscated attack patterns that may bypass traditional security controls.