CVE-2006-2812 in PICRATE
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in index.php in Dominios Europa PICRATE (aka TAL RateMyPic) 1.0 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a javascript URI in the SRC attribute of an IMG element in the (1) name (aka nick), (2) email, and (3) comment boxes; and via the (4) id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2812 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Dominios Europa PICRATE application version 1.0, commonly known as TAL RateMyPic. This web application suffers from multiple XSS vulnerabilities that stem from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms. The flaw specifically affects the index.php script which processes user inputs in various form fields, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can inject harmful script code into the application's web interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through improper handling of user-supplied data in four distinct input vectors. Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by embedding javascript URIs within the src attribute of img elements in three primary user input fields including name (nick), email, and comment boxes. Additionally, the id parameter presents a fourth vector of attack. These input fields lack proper sanitization, allowing malicious payloads to be stored and subsequently executed when other users view the affected content. The vulnerability manifests because the application fails to validate or escape special characters in user inputs before rendering them back to the browser, creating an environment where injected scripts execute in the context of the victim's browser session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the targeted environment. Remote attackers can hijack user sessions, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or even deface the application's content. The vulnerability particularly affects the application's core functionality as it allows attackers to manipulate the user interface through image elements, which are commonly trusted by users and browsers. When legitimate users view pages containing maliciously injected content, their browsers execute the embedded scripts, potentially leading to unauthorized actions performed on their behalf.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the attack patterns outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 technique for command and scripting interpreter. The exploitation requires minimal technical sophistication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by attackers with basic web security knowledge. The attack vector utilizes the inherent trust users place in image elements, which bypasses typical security filters that might be configured to block direct script injection. Remediation efforts should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms, particularly for all user-supplied content that gets rendered back to the browser. Security measures must include proper HTML escaping of all dynamic content and validation of image source attributes to prevent javascript URI execution.
This vulnerability represents a classic example of insufficient input sanitization in web applications, where user-provided data flows directly into the application's output without adequate protection mechanisms. The impact is exacerbated by the fact that the vulnerable application processes user comments and profile information, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise user sessions or manipulate the application's content. The lack of proper security controls in this legacy application highlights the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies and comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle. Organizations should prioritize patching or upgrading affected systems immediately, while also implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to mitigate similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The vulnerability underscores the critical need for developers to follow secure coding practices and regularly conduct security assessments to identify and remediate such flaws before they can be exploited in real-world scenarios.