CVE-2006-3548 in Application Framework
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Horde Application Framework 3.0.0 through 3.0.10 and 3.1.0 through 3.1.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a (1) javascript URI or an external (2) http, (3) https, or (4) ftp URI in the url parameter in services/go.php (aka the dereferrer), (5) a javascript URI in the module parameter in services/help (aka the help viewer), and (6) the name parameter in services/problem.php (aka the problem reporting screen).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2019
The CVE-2006-3548 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting the Horde Application Framework versions 3.0.0 through 3.0.10 and 3.1.0 through 3.1.1. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the framework's core services, specifically targeting three distinct entry points that handle user-supplied parameters. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of victims' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of users. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, which directly maps to the common weakness patterns identified in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The attack vectors exploit the framework's dereferencing functionality and help viewer components, creating multiple pathways for exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper handling of URI parameters within the Horde framework's service endpoints. The primary attack vectors include the services/go.php script which processes the url parameter containing javascript URIs or external http/https/ftp URIs, the services/help script that accepts javascript URIs in the module parameter, and the services/problem.php script that processes the name parameter. These components fail to properly validate or sanitize input before rendering it in web responses, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious payloads. The dereferrer service specifically lacks proper URI validation, allowing attackers to pass malicious javascript URIs that get executed when users click on links. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers the exploitation of web applications through malicious input injection.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-3548 is significant for organizations using affected Horde versions, as it enables attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. The vulnerability affects the framework's core services, meaning that any application built on top of Horde could be exploited, potentially impacting email services, calendar applications, and other web-based tools that rely on the framework. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject phishing content that appears legitimate within the trusted application environment. The distributed nature of the vulnerability across multiple service endpoints increases the attack surface and makes comprehensive protection more challenging. Organizations utilizing these vulnerable versions face potential data breaches, unauthorized access to user accounts, and possible system compromise through the execution of malicious scripts in user browsers. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly in frameworks that serve as foundations for multiple applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-3548 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Horde versions to the latest stable releases that contain proper input validation fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures, including strict URI validation and filtering of javascript protocols in all user-supplied parameters. The security architecture should incorporate proper output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious content from being executed in browser contexts. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Regular security audits and code reviews should focus on identifying similar input validation gaps in other application components. The vulnerability highlights the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security practices and implementing secure coding guidelines that prevent the injection of untrusted data into web responses. Organizations should also consider implementing security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures for handling such vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that patches do not introduce regressions in legitimate functionality while maintaining the security posture against similar attack vectors.