CVE-2006-4295 in Panda ActiveScan
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in ascan_6.asp in Panda ActiveScan 5.53.00 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the email parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-4295 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within Panda ActiveScan 5.53.00's ascan_6.asp component. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input through the email parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically affects the web-based interface of the security scanning tool, which is designed to identify system vulnerabilities but inadvertently becomes a vector for exploitation itself.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the ascan_6.asp script. When the application processes the email parameter without proper sanitization, it fails to escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code by web browsers. This lack of input filtering allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that persist in the application's response, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users who view the affected page. The flaw aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in software applications where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. An attacker could craft a payload that, when executed in a victim's browser, would steal authentication cookies or redirect users to phishing sites designed to capture sensitive information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where security scanning tools like Panda ActiveScan are used, as it could allow unauthorized individuals to compromise the security monitoring infrastructure itself. This creates a scenario where the very tool meant to protect systems becomes a potential entry point for attackers, undermining the organization's security posture.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to a newer version of Panda ActiveScan that addresses this flaw. Additionally, implementing proper parameter validation for all user inputs, particularly those used in web page generation, would prevent malicious code from being executed. Security measures such as content security policies and proper HTML encoding of all dynamic content can serve as additional defensive layers. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 (Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment) and T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript), highlighting the attack surface and execution methods that could be leveraged by threat actors. Regular security assessments and input validation testing should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the security infrastructure.