CVE-2006-4325 in Doika guestbook
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in gbook.php in Doika guestbook 2.5, and possibly earlier, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the page parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2017
The CVE-2006-4325 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the Doika guestbook 2.5 application, which falls under the broader category of web application security weaknesses. This vulnerability specifically affects the gbook.php script where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to web browsers. The issue stems from the application's failure to validate or escape the page parameter, creating an opening for malicious actors to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious websites.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is sent to a web browser without proper validation or sanitization. The flaw manifests when the page parameter is processed by the gbook.php script, allowing attackers to craft malicious URLs that contain script payloads. When legitimate users navigate to these crafted URLs or view pages containing the malicious input, the injected scripts execute in their browser context, potentially compromising their security. The vulnerability exists across multiple versions of the Doika guestbook application, indicating a fundamental design flaw rather than a temporary coding error.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-4325 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a means to perform various malicious activities through the compromised web application. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute persistent XSS attacks that may steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or deface the guestbook content. The vulnerability also aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the 'Command and Control' and 'Credential Access' domains, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access to user sessions and potentially harvest credentials. The attack surface is particularly concerning because guestbook applications are often publicly accessible and may contain sensitive user information or serve as entry points for broader network infiltration attempts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-4325 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective immediate fix involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly the page parameter, through proper HTML escaping or encoding before rendering it in web pages. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and establish a robust input validation framework that rejects or sanitizes potentially malicious content. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, while application developers should follow secure coding practices that prevent XSS vulnerabilities through proper data validation and sanitization techniques. The remediation efforts should also include updating to patched versions of the Doika guestbook application if available, as this vulnerability was likely addressed in subsequent releases through proper input handling mechanisms.