CVE-2006-4069 in OZJournals
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Elaine Aquino Online Zone Journals (OZJournals) 1.5 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) m and (2) c parameters in index.php, (3) a search action, and (4) a "submit comment" action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2018
The CVE-2006-4069 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Elaine Aquino Online Zone Journals version 1.5, a web-based blogging platform that was widely used in the mid-2000s. This vulnerability manifests through multiple attack vectors that collectively expose the application to remote code execution through malicious script injection. The flaw specifically affects the handling of user-supplied input parameters within the index.php file, creating pathways for attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of victim browsers. The vulnerability impacts four distinct parameter handling mechanisms including the m and c parameters, search functionality, and comment submission processes, demonstrating a comprehensive lack of input validation throughout the application's user interaction points.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization and validation of user input across multiple web application interfaces. When users interact with the OZJournals platform through the affected parameters, the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This inadequate input processing creates persistent XSS vulnerabilities where malicious actors can inject scripts that execute in the browser context of other users who view the affected content. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects core application functionality including navigation parameters, search queries, and user-generated content submission mechanisms, making exploitation possible through various attack vectors that do not require authentication or privileged access.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2006-4069 extends beyond simple script injection to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. Attackers could exploit these vulnerabilities to steal user session cookies, redirect victims to phishing sites, or inject malicious advertisements that compromise user security. The vulnerability's presence in the search functionality and comment submission areas means that even benign users who simply browse or engage with content could become unwitting participants in XSS attacks. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where user-generated content is prevalent and where attackers can leverage the platform's social features to propagate malicious payloads. The persistence of these vulnerabilities across multiple parameter types indicates a systemic flaw in the application's security architecture rather than isolated incidents.
Security mitigations for CVE-2006-4069 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective remediation involves proper sanitization of all user-supplied parameters before they are processed or displayed, including implementing strict input validation that rejects or escapes potentially dangerous characters. The application should employ context-aware output encoding techniques that ensure any user-generated content is properly escaped when rendered in HTML contexts. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts and establish proper parameter validation routines that conform to established security standards. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security framework. The remediation process should include thorough code review to identify all input handling points and implementation of proper input validation libraries or frameworks that can prevent similar vulnerabilities from reoccurring in future application versions.