CVE-2006-3253 in vBulletin
Summary
by MITRE
** DISPUTED ** Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in member.php in vBulletin 3.5.x allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the u parameter. NOTE: the vendor has disputed this report, stating that they have been unable to replicate the issue and that "the userid parameter is run through our filtering system as an unsigned integer."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3253 pertains to a cross-site scripting flaw discovered in vBulletin version 3.5.x, specifically within the member.php script. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of web application security flaws that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. The reported issue involves the u parameter which is allegedly susceptible to malicious input injection, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the vBulletin application's member.php component. When user-supplied data is not adequately filtered or escaped before being rendered in web pages, attackers can exploit this weakness to inject malicious payloads. The u parameter in question represents a user identifier field that should theoretically be handled as a numeric value, yet the vulnerability report suggests that this sanitization process may have been bypassed or inadequately implemented. This represents a classic XSS attack vector where the attacker's malicious code executes in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability could have significant consequences for vBulletin installations and their users. The ability to inject arbitrary scripts into web pages means that attackers could potentially redirect users to malicious sites, steal session cookies, or even modify content displayed to users. The vulnerability affects the core membership functionality of the forum software, making it a critical concern for administrators who rely on vBulletin for community engagement and user interaction. The disputed nature of this CVE by the vendor suggests that there may be questions surrounding the reproducibility or the actual existence of the vulnerability as described, yet the potential risk remains significant enough to warrant attention from security professionals.
The vendor's response indicating that the userid parameter should be processed as an unsigned integer represents a standard security measure designed to prevent injection attacks. However, this approach assumes that all input validation and sanitization processes are working correctly, which may not always be the case. The discrepancy between the reported vulnerability and the vendor's stance highlights the importance of thorough security testing and validation of security claims. This situation also demonstrates how security researchers and vendors may have different perspectives on the actual existence or severity of vulnerabilities, particularly when reproducibility is questioned.
According to CWE guidelines, this vulnerability would be classified as CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this under the technique of Web Application Attack, potentially falling under the broader category of credential access or privilege escalation depending on the payload executed. Organizations should consider implementing additional input validation measures beyond what the vendor claims to be in place, particularly when dealing with user-supplied parameters that are intended to be numeric values. The disputed nature of this CVE emphasizes the importance of maintaining multiple layers of security controls and not relying solely on vendor claims regarding vulnerability status. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional protection against potential XSS attacks, regardless of the vendor's position on this specific vulnerability.