CVE-2006-3612 in Phorum
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Phorum 5.1.14 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3612 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Phorum version 5.1.14, a widely used open-source web forum software. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a persistent security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications. The specific nature of this flaw in Phorum 5.1.14 demonstrates how web-based applications can become vulnerable to client-side attacks when proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms are absent or insufficiently implemented.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers can inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the forum application through unspecified vectors, likely involving user input fields such as post content, usernames, or other interactive elements within the web interface. This type of injection allows attackers to execute malicious code in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple input points within the application may be susceptible to this flaw, indicating a systemic lack of proper sanitization across the application's data handling processes.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to forum administrators and their users, as it enables attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The impact extends beyond simple script injection, as attackers can leverage this weakness to perform actions on behalf of legitimate users, including posting malicious content, modifying user permissions, or accessing private communications. The vulnerability's presence in a forum environment is particularly concerning since these platforms typically contain user-generated content that may include sensitive personal information, making the potential attack surface even more expansive.
The attack pattern associated with this vulnerability aligns with the techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.002 sub-technique for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically focusing on the use of JavaScript within web applications. Organizations utilizing Phorum 5.1.14 should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious scripts from being executed. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user-provided input before processing and ensuring proper HTML escaping when rendering content to prevent script execution in browser contexts. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regular security audits can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in future versions of the application, with the vulnerability serving as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices in web development environments.