CVE-2006-3156 in Ultimate eShop
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.cgi in Ultimate eShop 1.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the subid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/20/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3156 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Ultimate eShop web application version 1.0 and earlier. This security weakness resides in the index.cgi script which fails to properly validate or sanitize user input received through the subid parameter. The flaw enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers who visit affected pages. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting attacks where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The security implications extend beyond simple script execution as this vulnerability can be leveraged to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized transactions, or redirect users to malicious sites.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within the subid parameter and delivers it to unsuspecting users. When victims access the crafted link, the web application processes the unvalidated input and includes it directly in the HTTP response without proper sanitization or output encoding. This allows the injected script to execute in the victim's browser context with the privileges of the logged-in user. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication from the attacker and can be delivered through social engineering techniques or by manipulating legitimate user interactions. The vulnerability exists due to the absence of input validation controls that would normally filter or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or script tags.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate exploitation to encompass potential long-term damage to user trust and system integrity. Attackers can leverage this flaw to impersonate legitimate users, access sensitive information, or manipulate the e-commerce transactions within the Ultimate eShop environment. The vulnerability creates opportunities for session hijacking where attackers can capture user authentication tokens and maintain persistent access to customer accounts. Additionally, the injection of malicious scripts could facilitate the delivery of malware or phishing content that further compromises the security posture of both individual users and the organization operating the e-commerce platform. The attack can be automated and scaled, potentially affecting multiple users simultaneously and causing widespread disruption to business operations. Organizations may face regulatory compliance issues and reputational damage if user data is compromised through such vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-3156 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters including the subid parameter through comprehensive validation that rejects or encodes potentially dangerous characters. Organizations should implement the principle of least privilege by ensuring that only necessary parameters are processed and that all input undergoes strict validation before being incorporated into web responses. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection layers against script injection attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of secure coding practices and input validation, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 which covers web shell deployment through script injection attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit such vulnerabilities.