CVE-2006-3259 in e107
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in e107 0.7.5 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) ep parameter to search.php and the (2) subject parameter in comment.php (aka the Subject field when posting a comment).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-3259 represents a critical security flaw in the e107 content management system version 0.7.5, specifically targeting cross-site scripting attack vectors that enable remote code execution through web script injection. This vulnerability manifests in two distinct attack paths within the system's core functionality, creating multiple entry points for malicious actors to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the e107 application's search and comment posting mechanisms. When users interact with the search.php script, the ep parameter fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers. Similarly, the comment.php script lacks proper validation of the subject parameter, which is used when posting comments to the system, creating another avenue for XSS exploitation. Both vulnerabilities fall under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically targeting the improper neutralization of input during web page generation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. The widespread use of e107 in web publishing environments means that successful exploitation could compromise numerous websites simultaneously, particularly those relying on the vulnerable version for content management and user interaction. Attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to establish persistent access to user accounts, manipulate content, or create backdoor access points within the targeted web infrastructure.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments and T1059.007 for command and control through script-based payloads. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious input strings containing JavaScript code that gets stored and executed when other users view the affected pages. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation, output encoding, and proper sanitization of all user-supplied data before processing or displaying it within web applications. The recommended mitigations include upgrading to a patched version of e107, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting thorough security testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web infrastructure.