CVE-2006-4017 in G3 Content Management System
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the search module in Inter Network Marketing (INM) CMS G3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the search_string parameter.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2017
The CVE-2006-4017 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Inter Network Marketing CMS G3 platform's search functionality. This security weakness resides in how the system processes user input through the search_string parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically affects the search module component of the CMS, which is a fundamental feature for content discovery and user engagement within the platform's interface.
The technical exploitation of this flaw occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing script code and submits it through the search_string parameter. The CMS fails to properly sanitize or encode this input before rendering it back to users, allowing the injected code to execute in the victim's browser context. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting in software applications. The vulnerability's impact is amplified because it affects a core functionality module that is frequently accessed by users, making successful exploitation more likely and potentially affecting a larger user base.
From an operational standpoint, this XSS vulnerability creates significant risks for both the platform administrators and end users. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even deface the CMS interface. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication or privileged access to exploit, making it a low-hanging fruit for threat actors. The vulnerability can be exploited through various methods including reflected XSS where the malicious script is immediately reflected back to the user, or stored XSS if the malicious input is permanently stored and later displayed to other users.
The security implications extend beyond simple script injection as this vulnerability can serve as a launching point for more sophisticated attacks within the broader attack chain. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, and potentially T1531 for Account Access Through Persistence. Organizations using this CMS version face risks of data theft, service disruption, and potential complete system compromise if attackers gain access to user sessions or administrative functions through this vector. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the critical importance of implementing proper output encoding and sanitization mechanisms in web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-4017 should focus on immediate input validation and output encoding implementations. The most effective remediation involves sanitizing all user inputs through proper encoding before processing or displaying them within the application interface. This includes implementing proper HTML entity encoding for output, using Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, and ensuring that all user-supplied data undergoes rigorous validation. Organizations should also implement proper web application firewall rules to detect and block suspicious input patterns, and consider upgrading to patched versions of the INM CMS G3 platform if available. The vulnerability underscores the fundamental principle that all user inputs must be treated as untrusted and properly validated before being processed or rendered within web applications.