CVE-2006-3480 in Joomla
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Joomla! before 1.0.10 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified parameters involving the (1) getUserStateFromRequest function, and the (2) SEF and (3) com_messages modules.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2019
The CVE-2006-3480 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Joomla framework's core components, specifically affecting the getUserStateFromRequest function and multiple module implementations including SEF and com_messages. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into web pages viewed by other users, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited across various user sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper handling of user-supplied input parameters within the Joomla! framework. The getUserStateFromRequest function fails to adequately sanitize or validate incoming data, enabling attackers to inject malicious payloads that can be executed in the context of other users' browsers. Additionally, the SEF (Search Engine Friendly) component and com_messages module present similar weaknesses in their parameter processing logic, allowing attackers to manipulate URL parameters and message handling functions to inject malicious content. These vulnerabilities align with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-3480 is significant as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and defacement of websites. Users who interact with vulnerable Joomla installations, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by attackers without requiring any special privileges or authentication. This flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete compromise of web applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate upgrading to Joomla! version 1.0.10 or later, which contains patches addressing the input validation issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures, including proper escaping of user-supplied data before rendering in web pages, and employ Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and input validation as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework categories related to web application security. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in web applications, while implementing proper parameter validation and output encoding techniques can prevent similar cross-site scripting scenarios from occurring in the future.