CVE-2006-4442 in PHP iAddressBook
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in PHP iAddressBook before 0.95 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the cat_name parameter, related to adding a category. (categories field). NOTE: some details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2017
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists in PHP iAddressBook version 0.94 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically affects the category management functionality where the cat_name parameter is processed without proper input sanitization. When users submit category names through the web interface, the application fails to validate or escape special characters in the input, creating an opening for attackers to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code. This flaw falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a common weakness in web applications that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability operates through the standard XSS attack vector where malicious input is stored on the server and subsequently executed when other users view the affected page, making it particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where multiple users interact with the address book application.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing HTML or JavaScript code and submits it as the cat_name parameter during category creation. The application processes this input directly without sanitizing special characters such as angle brackets, quotes, or script tags, allowing the malicious code to be stored in the database and executed when the category is displayed to other users. This type of vulnerability is categorized as reflected XSS in the ATT&CK framework, though in this case it represents stored XSS since the malicious content is persisted in the application's data storage. The impact extends beyond simple script execution to potentially enable session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites, as the injected scripts run with the privileges of the victim users who view the compromised category listings. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to user accounts, modify address book entries, or perform other malicious activities that compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the application's data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations using PHP iAddressBook, as it exposes all users to potential security breaches through a single point of failure in input validation. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of category management within the address book system, making it a high-priority issue for immediate remediation. Organizations relying on this application for contact management may experience unauthorized access to sensitive information, particularly if the address book contains personal or business contact details that could be exploited for social engineering attacks. The vulnerability also impacts the overall trustworthiness of the application, as users may lose confidence in the security of their contact data. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability could lead to violations of data protection regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA, depending on the nature of the contact information stored in the address book. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects the basic category creation functionality, which is likely to be frequently used by multiple users within an organization, amplifying the potential for widespread impact.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious code from being stored or executed. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user input through proper HTML escaping and implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. Organizations should upgrade to PHP iAddressBook version 0.95 or later where the vulnerability has been patched, as this represents the primary fix for the issue. Additionally, implementing proper web application firewall rules to detect and block suspicious input patterns can provide an additional layer of protection. Security monitoring should include regular scanning for XSS vulnerabilities in web applications, particularly in legacy systems like PHP iAddressBook that may not receive ongoing security updates. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and serves as a reminder of the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle. Organizations should also consider implementing automated security scanning tools to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications and ensure that all user-supplied data is properly validated and sanitized before processing or storage.