CVE-2006-2846 in VisionGate Portal System
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Print.PHP in VisionGate Portal System allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified parameters. NOTE: The provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2846 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the VisionGate Portal System's Print.PHP component. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security weaknesses. The vulnerability specifically affects the print functionality of the portal system, suggesting that when users attempt to generate print outputs or access print-related features, malicious scripts can be injected into the application's response.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Print.PHP script. When the application processes unspecified parameters without proper sanitization, it fails to distinguish between legitimate user input and potentially malicious script code. This allows attackers to craft specially formatted requests that, when processed by the server, get executed within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the application layer where user interactions are processed, making it difficult to detect and prevent through traditional network-based security measures.
From an operational perspective, this XSS vulnerability presents significant risks to the VisionGate Portal System's users and organization. Attackers could exploit this weakness to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious sites, or even deface the portal's content. The remote attack vector means that threat actors do not need physical access to the system or network to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the portal system handles sensitive information. The unspecified parameters suggest that multiple input points within the print functionality could be compromised, expanding the potential attack surface.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it undermines the fundamental security model of web applications by allowing malicious code execution in user browsers. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving code injection and credential access, potentially enabling adversaries to escalate privileges and maintain persistence within the affected environment. Organizations using VisionGate Portal System would be particularly vulnerable if they do not implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The lack of detailed information regarding the exact parameter names or input types makes this vulnerability particularly challenging to remediate without comprehensive code review and security testing.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding practices throughout the application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input before processing and ensuring that any dynamic content is properly escaped when rendered in web pages. Security measures should include implementing Content Security Policy headers, using parameterized queries where appropriate, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper secure coding practices and input validation as fundamental defense mechanisms against XSS attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious patterns in application traffic that might indicate exploitation attempts.
The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor components like print functionality can contain significant security risks when proper security controls are not implemented. This case emphasizes the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle and the importance of adhering to established security standards and best practices. Regular vulnerability assessments and security training for development teams can help prevent similar issues from occurring in future versions of the software. The incident serves as a reminder that even legacy systems require ongoing security attention to prevent exploitation by modern threat actors who continue to target known vulnerabilities in web applications.