CVE-2006-3624 in FLV Player
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in FLV Players 8 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the url parameter to (1) player.php or (2) popup.php.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3624 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting FLV Players version 8, specifically targeting two key components of the application. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The affected files player.php and popup.php serve as entry points where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or validated, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the FLV Player application's web interface. When users provide a url parameter to either player.php or popup.php, the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This lack of proper sanitization allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that, when executed, can perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability specifically exploits the application's failure to implement proper output encoding, which is a core defensive mechanism against XSS attacks as recommended by the OWASP Top Ten Project and the Web Application Security Consortium guidelines.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious sites, and data exfiltration. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to steal user sessions, modify application data, or even gain administrative privileges if the affected users have elevated access rights. The remote nature of this attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring local system access or physical presence, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that serve a broad user base. This vulnerability particularly affects users who are authenticated to the FLV Player application, as the malicious scripts execute with the privileges of the victim user.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper parameter validation and escaping special characters before processing or displaying them in web pages. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the sources from which scripts can be executed, and employ proper input filtering techniques that prevent the execution of malicious code. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application. The remediation process should include updating the FLV Player application to a patched version that properly handles user input, implementing proper HTML escaping for all dynamic content, and establishing secure coding practices that prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in future development cycles. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in web application security, aligning with the ATT&CK framework's T1203 technique for exploitation of web application vulnerabilities.