CVE-2006-2870 in ASP Discussion Forum
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in forum_search.asp in Intelligent Solutions Inc. ASP Discussion Forum allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the search variable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2870 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Intelligent Solutions Inc. ASP Discussion Forum software, specifically affecting the forum_search.asp component. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and well-documented web application security issues. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input received through the search variable parameter, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code into the forum's search functionality.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing script code and submits it through the search parameter of the forum_search.asp page. When the vulnerable application processes this input without adequate sanitization, it stores or displays the malicious content within the forum's search results or related pages. This creates a persistent XSS vector where any user who accesses the affected search results or pages will execute the injected script in their browser context. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be leveraged to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users within the forum's context.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-2870 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to the forum's administrative functions. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of input validation and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.002 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting web shells or client-side attacks. Attackers can exploit this flaw to establish persistent access to the forum, manipulate forum content, or harvest sensitive user information including login credentials and personal data. The vulnerability affects all users of the affected ASP Discussion Forum software regardless of their authentication status, making it particularly dangerous for community-driven platforms where user-generated content is prevalent.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the forum's search functionality. The recommended approach includes sanitizing all user input through proper escaping of special characters, implementing Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, and employing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege for forum administrators and regularly monitoring forum activities for signs of exploitation attempts. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security assessments and code reviews to identify similar input validation flaws that may exist in other components of the application, aligning with industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks for web application security.