CVE-2006-4199 in 04WebServer
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Soft3304 04WebServer 1.83 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the URL, which is not properly sanitized before it is returned in an error page, a different vulnerability than CVE-2004-1512.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2018
The cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-4199 affects Soft3304 04WebServer version 1.83 and earlier implementations, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of victim browsers. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the web server fails to properly sanitize URL parameters before incorporating them into error page responses, creating an avenue for attackers to inject malicious payloads that can be executed by unsuspecting users who encounter these malformed responses.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the web server's error handling mechanism. When malformed or maliciously crafted URLs are processed by the affected server, the system does not adequately sanitize the input parameters before rendering them in error messages, allowing attackers to inject script tags or other malicious HTML content that executes in the victim's browser context. This represents a classic reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability where the malicious payload is reflected back to the user through the server's error response mechanism.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with the ability to perform session hijacking, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even deface web pages. The vulnerability's persistence in older versions of the 04WebServer software indicates a long-standing security flaw that was not properly addressed in the development lifecycle, potentially exposing organizations running these outdated systems to various forms of web-based attacks. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that rely on the 04WebServer for hosting content, making it a significant concern for organizations that have not upgraded to patched versions.
Security practitioners should recognize this vulnerability as a variant of CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and it aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers spearphishing through social media. The remediation strategy requires immediate patching of the 04WebServer software to version 1.84 or later, which should include proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls and input validation controls as additional defensive measures, while conducting comprehensive security assessments to identify other potential sources of similar vulnerabilities in their web infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing proper security controls throughout the application development lifecycle to prevent such flaws from persisting in production environments.