CVE-2006-2851 in dotProject
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in dotProject 2.0.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified parameters, which are not properly handled when the client is using Internet Explorer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2851 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the dotProject 2.0.2 web application framework, specifically affecting the index.php file. This security weakness enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data or system compromise. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input parameters, creating an entry point for malicious code injection that can be executed in the victim's browser environment.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the dotProject application's parameter handling mechanisms. When users interact with the application through Internet Explorer browsers, the vulnerability becomes particularly exploitable due to specific rendering behaviors and security model differences in Microsoft's browser implementation. The flaw operates by accepting unsanitized input through unspecified parameters that are then directly embedded into web pages without proper HTML escaping or context-appropriate encoding. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code, HTML tags, or other potentially harmful content that executes in the victim's browser session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the application environment. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when clicked by authenticated users, execute in the victim's browser context with the privileges of that user. This creates a significant risk for organizations using dotProject for project management, as compromised user sessions could lead to unauthorized access to project data, modification of critical information, or even complete system compromise if administrative accounts are targeted.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The attack vector described in CVE-2006-2851 follows patterns consistent with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1566, which encompasses social engineering attacks that leverage web-based exploits. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms, employ proper output encoding for all user-supplied data, and ensure that all web applications undergo regular security assessments. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of secure coding practices and input sanitization, particularly when dealing with user-provided data in web applications. Remediation efforts should focus on upgrading to patched versions of dotProject, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting thorough security reviews of all application parameters to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components of the system infrastructure.