CVE-2006-4086 in OZJournals
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in Elaine Aquino Online Zone Journals (OZJournals) 1.5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the keywords parameter. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2018
The CVE-2006-4086 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Elaine Aquino Online Zone Journals 1.5 web application, specifically affecting the index.php script. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation, commonly known as cross-site scripting. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input received through the keywords parameter, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability's classification as remote indicates that attackers can exploit this weakness without requiring physical access to the target system or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous in web-based environments.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a user submits malicious content through the keywords parameter in the index.php script. The web application processes this input without adequate validation or sanitization mechanisms, directly incorporating the user-supplied data into dynamically generated web pages. When other users browse pages that contain this malicious input, their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The attack vector leverages the trust relationship between the web application and its users, as legitimate users unknowingly execute code that was injected by an attacker. This vulnerability demonstrates poor input handling practices and highlights the critical importance of implementing proper data validation and output encoding in web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-4086 extends beyond simple data corruption or unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to manipulate the user experience and potentially compromise entire user sessions. When successful, the vulnerability can facilitate session theft through cookie manipulation, allowing attackers to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or functionality. The attack can also be used to redirect users to phishing sites, harvest login credentials, or deface web pages to spread malware. The vulnerability's presence in a web journal application specifically exposes users to risks during normal browsing activities, as the keywords parameter is likely used for search functionality and user-generated content. This makes the exploitation surface more accessible and increases the probability of successful attacks against unsuspecting users who interact with the application.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-4086 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper validation routines that reject or escape potentially dangerous characters and patterns. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while proper output encoding ensures that any malicious content is rendered harmless when displayed to users. The application should employ parameterized queries and input sanitization libraries to prevent injection attacks, and all user-generated content should be properly escaped before being incorporated into web pages. Security updates and patches should be applied immediately upon availability, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while user education about the risks of clicking suspicious links or entering untrusted content remains an essential component of overall security posture.