CVE-2006-3382 in mAds
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in search.php in mAds 1.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the "search string".
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3382 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the mAds 1.0 web application, specifically affecting the search.php component. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a fundamental weakness in web application security. The flaw exists in how the application processes user-supplied input through the search string parameter, failing to properly sanitize or encode the data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages.
The technical execution of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious search query containing embedded script code or HTML tags that are then processed by the vulnerable search.php script. When the application displays the search results page, the malicious content is executed within the context of other users' browsers who view the affected page. This creates a persistent threat where the injected code can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or defacing the web application interface. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates entirely through the search functionality, which is typically a commonly used and trusted feature of web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or display manipulation. Attackers can leverage this XSS flaw to establish persistent access to user sessions, potentially compromising sensitive information and user credentials. The attack vector requires no special privileges or complex exploitation techniques, making it particularly attractive to threat actors. Users who browse the affected website and encounter the malicious search results are automatically subjected to the injected code execution without any additional interaction required from them. This automated nature of the attack significantly increases the potential for widespread impact across the user base of the vulnerable mAds application.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-3382 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user input before it is processed or displayed in web pages, particularly for parameters that are directly reflected in the application's output. This approach aligns with the defense-in-depth principles recommended by the OWASP Top Ten project and follows the ATT&CK framework's mitigation strategies for web application vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, utilize proper HTML encoding for dynamic content, and ensure that all user-supplied data undergoes thorough validation before being incorporated into web page responses. Additionally, regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other application components.