CVE-2006-3278 in H-Sphere
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in H-Sphere 2.5.1 Beta 1 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) next_template, (2) start, (3) curr_menu_id, and (4) arid parameters in psoft/servlet/resadmin/psoft.hsphere.CP when using the mailman/massmail.html template_name.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2021
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists in H-Sphere 2.5.1 Beta 1 and earlier versions of the web hosting control panel software. The flaw resides in the parameter handling mechanism within the psoft/servlet/resadmin/psoft.hsphere.CP servlet where multiple input parameters fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating the next_template, start, curr_menu_id, and arid parameters to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically targets the mailman/massmail.html template_name parameter, making it particularly dangerous for administrators who might inadvertently process untrusted input from web forms or API endpoints.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the H-Sphere application framework. When the servlet processes these parameters without proper sanitization, it directly incorporates user-controllable data into the HTTP response without appropriate HTML escaping or context-aware encoding. This creates an environment where malicious JavaScript code can be executed in the victim's browser when they view pages containing the injected content. The vulnerability is classified as a classic reflected XSS attack pattern where the malicious payload is reflected back to the user through the web application's response. According to CWE standards, this represents a CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive administrative credentials, manipulate user sessions, and potentially escalate privileges within the hosting environment. An attacker could craft malicious links that, when clicked by an administrator, would execute scripts to steal cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or even modify the hosting control panel configuration. The vulnerability affects the entire H-Sphere ecosystem since it operates at the core servlet level, meaning any administrative interface that utilizes these parameters could be compromised. This makes it particularly dangerous in multi-tenant hosting environments where a single compromised account could potentially affect multiple customers. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it requires no special privileges or complex exploitation techniques, making it accessible to even novice attackers.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. Organizations should immediately upgrade to patched versions of H-Sphere that address this vulnerability, as the software vendor likely released security updates to resolve the input sanitization issues. Additionally, implementing proper HTML escaping for all user-controllable parameters in the servlet response generation process would prevent script injection. Security measures should include deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious parameter patterns, implementing content security policies to restrict script execution, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications to identify similar input handling vulnerabilities. The remediation approach should align with ATT&CK framework techniques for defensive measures against web application attacks, specifically focusing on input validation controls and output encoding to prevent XSS exploitation. Regular security training for developers on secure coding practices and maintaining up-to-date security patches would further reduce the risk of similar vulnerabilities in the future.