CVE-2006-3129 in NC LinkList
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in index.php in NC LinkList 1.2 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) cat and (2) view parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3129 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in the NC LinkList web application version 1.2 and earlier. This flaw exists within the index.php script and manifests through two distinct attack vectors that specifically target the cat and view parameters. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into web page content without proper validation or sanitization. This particular vulnerability demonstrates how web applications can inadvertently execute malicious scripts when user-supplied input is not adequately filtered before being rendered in web responses.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers manipulate the cat and view parameters in the index.php script to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code. When these parameters are processed by the application without proper input validation, the injected code becomes part of the web page response and executes within the context of other users' browsers. This allows attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web content, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by anyone with access to the vulnerable web application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or content modification. According to ATT&CK framework reference T1059.001, this vulnerability enables attackers to execute code in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to full compromise of user sessions. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of web applications by allowing unauthorized code execution, which can result in persistent infections, data exfiltration, and establishment of backdoors. Organizations using affected versions of NC LinkList face significant risk of user data compromise and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure if attackers leverage this vulnerability to gain initial access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-3129 must focus on input validation and output encoding practices. The most effective approach involves implementing strict parameter validation for the cat and view inputs, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before processing. Organizations should implement proper HTML escaping or encoding when rendering user input in web responses to prevent script execution. Additionally, applying the principle of least privilege and restricting access to the vulnerable application can limit potential damage. Regular security updates and patches should be implemented immediately upon availability, as the vulnerability affects older versions of the software that have been superseded by more secure releases. The remediation aligns with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top 10 2021 category A03:2021 - Injection, which emphasizes the importance of proper input validation and sanitization to prevent various injection-based attacks including XSS vulnerabilities.