CVE-2006-3342 in Arctic
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in Arctic 1.0.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the query parameter in a search cmd.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2018
The CVE-2006-3342 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the Arctic content management system version 1.0.2 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the index.php file and specifically targets the query parameter handling within the search functionality. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code through crafted search commands, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is sent to a web browser without proper validation or sanitization, making it susceptible to execution within the browser context of legitimate users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper input validation and output encoding in the search command processing. When users submit search queries through the web interface, the application fails to sanitize the query parameter before incorporating it into the response page. This oversight creates an environment where attackers can embed malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers when they view search results. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the web application's user interface rendering process, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through simple web browser interactions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, manipulate user data, or redirect users to malicious websites. Attackers can craft search queries that contain javascript payloads, which when executed in a victim's browser can capture cookies, submit data to attacker-controlled servers, or perform actions on behalf of the authenticated user. This vulnerability effectively undermines the security of the entire application by creating a persistent attack vector that can be exploited by anyone with access to the search functionality, regardless of their authentication status.
Security mitigations for CVE-2006-3342 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly parameters used in dynamic content generation, through the application of appropriate encoding techniques such as html entity encoding before rendering any user-provided data. Additionally, implementing a content security policy can provide an additional layer of protection against script execution. Organizations should also consider adopting secure coding practices that align with the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically focusing on preventing injection vulnerabilities and implementing proper input sanitization. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating and encoding all user inputs at multiple layers of the application architecture, as highlighted in the ATT&CK technique T1203 for legitimate program execution and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter. This vulnerability serves as a foundational example of why input validation and output encoding should be considered fundamental security controls in all web applications, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing and adherence to established security standards such as those defined in the CWE taxonomy.