CVE-2006-2891 in Pixelpost
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in admin/index.php for Pixelpost 1-5rc1-2 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML or web script via the loginmessage parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2891 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw affecting the Pixelpost content management system version 1.5rc1-2 and earlier. This security weakness resides within the administrative interface of the application, specifically in the admin/index.php file where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to users. The vulnerability manifests when the loginmessage parameter is processed without adequate validation or encoding, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code into the web application's response. This flaw directly violates the fundamental security principle of input validation and output encoding, which are essential components of secure web application development practices.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or filter user-controllable input parameters before incorporating them into the web page output. When administrators or users access the admin interface and the system processes the loginmessage parameter, the raw input is directly embedded into the HTML response without appropriate sanitization measures. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that can execute in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected page. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious script is reflected off the web server and executed in the victim's browser. According to CWE standards, this corresponds to CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting vulnerabilities where insufficient input validation and output encoding leads to code execution in user browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the compromised environment. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to steal administrative credentials, manipulate content, or redirect users to malicious websites. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it targets the administrative interface, which typically contains sensitive functionality and access controls. Once an attacker successfully injects malicious code through the loginmessage parameter, they could potentially escalate privileges, modify user accounts, or gain persistent access to the system. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, demonstrating how XSS flaws can be leveraged for executing malicious scripts in user browsers. The impact is compounded by the fact that this vulnerability affects the core administrative functionality of the CMS, potentially allowing attackers to completely compromise the system's integrity and confidentiality.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective immediate fix involves sanitizing all user-controllable input parameters before they are processed or rendered in the web interface. This includes implementing proper HTML entity encoding for any data that will be displayed in the user interface, particularly in contexts where JavaScript execution could occur. Additionally, developers should implement a Content Security Policy (CSP) header to limit the sources from which scripts can be executed, providing an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks. The fix should also include input length restrictions and validation to prevent overly long or malformed inputs from being processed. Organizations should consider implementing a web application firewall (WAF) rule to detect and block suspicious patterns in the loginmessage parameter, while also ensuring that all Pixelpost installations are updated to versions that address this specific vulnerability. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in other parts of the application. According to industry best practices and NIST guidelines for web application security, this type of vulnerability should be addressed through a combination of defensive coding practices and proactive security measures including regular patch management and security monitoring.