CVE-2006-3077 in aXentGuestbook
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in guestbook.cfm in aXentGuestbook 1.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the startrow parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2018
The cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3077 affects aXentGuestbook version 1.1 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of victim browsers. This vulnerability specifically resides in the guestbook.cfm component of the application, which processes user input without proper sanitization or validation mechanisms. The flaw manifests when the application fails to adequately filter or escape user-supplied data passed through the startrow parameter, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors seeking to inject arbitrary web script or HTML content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the aXentGuestbook application. When the startrow parameter is processed, the application directly incorporates user-supplied values into dynamic web page content without appropriate security measures such as input sanitization, HTML escaping, or context-appropriate encoding. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that, when executed in a victim's browser, can perform unauthorized actions including cookie theft, session hijacking, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to both application integrity and user security. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, potentially gaining unauthorized access to user accounts or administrative functions within the guestbook application. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft, data exfiltration, or the deployment of malware through browser-based attack vectors. Additionally, the vulnerability may enable attackers to manipulate the guestbook content, potentially defacing the application or inserting malicious links that could compromise other users. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that guestbook applications often serve as public-facing components where user interaction is encouraged, making the exploitation of such vulnerabilities relatively straightforward for threat actors.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability involve implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. Developers should sanitize all user input parameters including the startrow parameter by employing strict validation rules that reject or escape potentially malicious content. Implementing proper HTML escaping and context-appropriate encoding for all dynamic content generation prevents script injection attacks from succeeding. Additionally, adopting a defense-in-depth approach including Content Security Policy (CSP) headers, input sanitization libraries, and regular security code reviews can significantly reduce the risk of similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns targeting known XSS attack vectors. The remediation process should include thorough testing of all user-supplied parameters and comprehensive security validation to ensure that similar vulnerabilities are not present in other application components, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.005 for command and scripting interpreter usage in malicious contexts. Regular security updates and patch management practices should be enforced to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in legacy applications, as this particular vulnerability has been identified and documented for over a decade, making it a prime target for automated exploitation tools.