CVE-2006-3246 in Deaf Forum
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in show.php in GL-SH Deaf Forum 6.4.3 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the sort parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2017
The CVE-2006-3246 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the GL-SH Deaf Forum software version 6.4.3 and earlier releases. This vulnerability specifically targets the show.php script which processes user input through the sort parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML content within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw resides in the application's insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that persist and execute when other users view the affected pages.
This vulnerability operates under the common weakness enumeration CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a critical security flaw. The attack vector leverages the fact that the sort parameter in show.php does not adequately sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web page content. When users navigate to pages that utilize this vulnerable parameter, their browsers render the injected malicious code, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability demonstrates how insufficient data validation can create persistent security risks in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to compromise user sessions and access sensitive information. Remote attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script tags or other HTML content within the sort parameter, which when processed by the vulnerable application, gets executed in the victim's browser context. This creates a persistent threat where legitimate users may unknowingly execute malicious code, potentially leading to unauthorized access to forum accounts, data exfiltration, or further exploitation through more sophisticated attack chains. The vulnerability essentially transforms the forum into a vector for delivering malicious payloads to all users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user input parameters including the sort parameter through proper validation techniques that reject or escape potentially dangerous characters and sequences. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and adopting secure coding practices that align with industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding in preventing XSS attacks, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures throughout the application development lifecycle.