CVE-2006-3189 in HotPlug
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in administration/tblcontent/login1.php in HotPlug CMS 1.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the msg parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3189 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the HotPlug CMS 1.0 content management system, specifically affecting the administration/tblcontent/login1.php component. This issue arises from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter user-supplied data before rendering it within the web application's response. The vulnerability manifests when the application processes the msg parameter through the login1.php script, which does not adequately escape or sanitize the input before incorporating it into HTML output, creating an exploitable vector for malicious code injection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in web applications that allow attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The flaw occurs in the administrative interface of HotPlug CMS 1.0 where the msg parameter is directly used in HTML generation without proper sanitization, enabling attackers to craft malicious payloads that execute within the context of other users' browsers. This particular vulnerability affects the authentication and content management components of the CMS, making it particularly dangerous as it could potentially be exploited by attackers to hijack sessions, steal credentials, or manipulate administrative functions.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-3189 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code within the browser context of authenticated users. When exploited, this vulnerability could allow an attacker to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or perform actions on behalf of legitimate users within the CMS administration interface. The attack vector requires minimal privileges since the vulnerability exists in the public-facing administrative component, making it accessible to remote attackers without authentication. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on HotPlug CMS 1.0 for content management, as successful exploitation could lead to complete administrative compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive content and user data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective remediation involves sanitizing all user-provided input, particularly parameters like msg, before incorporating them into HTML output through proper HTML entity encoding. Organizations should also implement the principle of least privilege by restricting access to administrative components and implementing robust input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security assessments and code reviews to identify and remediate similar issues in legacy systems. The flaw exemplifies the need for secure coding practices and adherence to web application security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten project, which specifically addresses XSS vulnerabilities as critical threats to web application security. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional protection against similar injection attacks that may not be fully addressed through code-level remediation alone.