CVE-2006-4058 in Simplog
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in archive.php in Simplog 0.9.3 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the keyw parameter when performing a search. NOTE: some details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-4058 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Simplog blogging platform version 0.9.3 and earlier. This security weakness specifically affects the archive.php script which processes search functionality, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input passed through the keyw parameter during search operations, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content that gets executed by victim browsers.
This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical security weakness in web applications. The flaw operates by bypassing the application's input validation mechanisms, enabling attackers to inject malicious payloads that can persist within the application's search functionality. When legitimate users view search results or browse archived content, their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the application's own search functionality to deliver malicious content, making it difficult to distinguish between legitimate and malicious input.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including stealing user sessions, redirecting victims to phishing sites, defacing the blog content, or using the compromised browser to attack other systems. The remote nature of the attack means that an attacker can exploit this vulnerability without requiring physical access to the target system or network, making it particularly concerning for web applications that handle user-generated content or search functionality. The vulnerability affects the entire user base that interacts with the search feature, potentially compromising thousands of users depending on the blog's traffic and reach.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms within the Simplog application. The most effective approach involves validating and escaping all user input parameters, particularly those used in search functions, before processing or displaying them in web pages. Security measures should include implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, employing proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content, and ensuring that the application follows secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten. Additionally, upgrading to a patched version of Simplog or implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious input patterns provides effective protection against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their web applications, as this type of flaw often indicates broader input validation weaknesses within the system architecture.