CVE-2006-4067 in CakePHP
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in cake/libs/error.php in CakePHP before 1.1.7.3363 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the URL, which is reflected back in a 404 ("Not Found") error page. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2025
The CVE-2006-4067 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the CakePHP web application framework that existed in versions prior to 1.1.7.3363. This vulnerability specifically targets the error handling mechanism of the framework, particularly the error.php file located in the cake/libs directory. The flaw manifests when the application encounters a non-existent URL and generates a 404 error page, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web script or HTML code into the error response. The vulnerability operates by failing to properly sanitize or escape user input that appears in the URL parameter before it is rendered in the error page context, allowing attackers to exploit this weakness through carefully crafted malicious URLs.
The technical execution of this vulnerability follows the standard XSS attack pattern where user-supplied input flows directly into the web page output without appropriate sanitization. When a user accesses a malformed or non-existent URL, the CakePHP framework processes this request and displays a 404 error page that includes the original URL parameter in its content. If this parameter contains malicious script code, it gets executed in the context of the victim's browser when they view the error page. This reflects the fundamental flaw in input validation and output encoding practices within the framework's error handling components. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, where attackers leverage web application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code in victim browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious sites, and data exfiltration. An attacker could craft a URL containing malicious JavaScript that, when accessed by a victim browsing the application's error page, would execute in the victim's browser context and potentially compromise their session or steal sensitive information. The vulnerability affects any web application built on CakePHP versions before 1.1.7.3363 and could be particularly dangerous in environments where users might encounter error pages through various means such as bookmarked links, email attachments, or social engineering attacks. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious script is immediately executed upon page load, making it highly effective for immediate exploitation.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to CakePHP version 1.1.7.3363 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly sanitize URL parameters before rendering them in error pages. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding practices across their web applications, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly escaped before being rendered in web page contexts. Additional protective measures include implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, using web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization in error handling routines and underscores the need for robust security practices throughout the entire application lifecycle to prevent such client-side exploitation vectors.