CVE-2006-3766 in osDate
Summary
by MITRE
Darren s $5 Script Archive osDate 1.1.7 and earlier allows users to boost their own ratings via a txtrating parameter with a score greater than the intended maximum of 10.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3766 affects the osDate 1.1.7 content management system and earlier versions, representing a significant security flaw in the application's rating submission mechanism. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the script's handling of user-provided data, specifically the txtrating parameter that controls rating values. The vulnerability allows malicious users to manipulate the rating system by submitting arbitrary values that exceed the intended maximum score of 10, effectively enabling them to boost their own ratings beyond the system's designed limits. This represents a classic case of insufficient access control and data validation that undermines the integrity of the application's user feedback mechanisms.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's failure to properly validate or sanitize the txtrating parameter before processing user submissions. When users submit ratings through the script, the system does not enforce proper bounds checking or data type validation on the submitted score values. This oversight creates an opportunity for privilege escalation through data manipulation, where attackers can submit scores exceeding the maximum allowed value of 10. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and CWE-345, which addresses insufficient verification of data integrity. The flaw operates at the application layer and demonstrates poor security practices in parameter handling and access control enforcement.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple rating manipulation and represents a broader threat to the application's credibility and data integrity. By allowing users to submit ratings above the intended maximum, attackers can potentially skew the overall rating statistics, manipulate user rankings, and compromise the trustworthiness of the feedback system. This vulnerability could be exploited to artificially inflate personal ratings, create misleading performance indicators, or potentially influence user behavior through manipulated scoring systems. The impact is particularly concerning in applications where reputation management and user feedback are critical components of the platform's value proposition, as it undermines the fundamental trust in the rating system's accuracy.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization measures within the application's rating submission process. The system must enforce strict bounds checking on all user-provided rating values, ensuring that scores are validated against predefined maximum and minimum limits before processing. Additionally, proper access control mechanisms should be implemented to prevent unauthorized manipulation of rating parameters, and the application should log all rating submissions for audit purposes. Organizations should also consider implementing rate limiting and anomaly detection to identify suspicious rating patterns that may indicate manipulation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of adhering to secure coding practices and following the principle of least privilege in web application development, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access through social engineering or manipulation of application logic.