CVE-2006-3080 in aXentForum
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in viewposts.cfm in aXentForum II 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-2006-3080 affects aXentForum II and earlier versions, specifically within the viewposts.cfm component. This vulnerability represents a classic client-side attack vector that exploits improper input validation mechanisms within the web application's parameter handling. The flaw manifests when the application fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied input passed through the startrow parameter, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML content within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's insufficient validation and sanitization of the startrow parameter before incorporating it into dynamic web page content. When a user submits a request containing malicious script within the startrow parameter, the web application processes this input without proper encoding or filtering, allowing the injected code to be rendered as part of the web page output. This behavior directly violates the fundamental security principle of input validation and demonstrates a clear failure in the application's defense-in-depth strategy. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which specifically addresses the failure to properly handle user-controllable data in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate the application's behavior and potentially compromise user sessions. An attacker could inject malicious scripts that steal session cookies, redirect users to fraudulent sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the web application's user data, as well as potentially compromising the trust relationship between the application and its users. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in forum environments where users frequently interact with content generated by others, creating a wide attack surface for social engineering and session hijacking attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-3080 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data flow. The primary remediation involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly parameters like startrow, through proper encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding before incorporating them into web page content. Implementing a comprehensive input validation framework that rejects or filters out potentially malicious content patterns represents the most effective approach to preventing this vulnerability. Additionally, developers should adopt secure coding practices that enforce strict parameter validation and utilize established libraries or frameworks that provide built-in protection against XSS attacks. The application should also implement proper content security policies and utilize the principle of least privilege when handling user input to minimize the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security testing procedures to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in their web applications, aligning with the ATT&CK framework's approach to defending against client-side web attacks.