CVE-2006-4496 in IwebNegar
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in comments.php in IwebNegar 1.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the comment parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-4496 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the IwebNegar content management system version 1.1. This security weakness resides in the comments.php script which fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it within web pages. The vulnerability specifically affects the comment parameter, which serves as the primary attack vector for malicious actors seeking to exploit this flaw. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that allow attackers to inject malicious scripts or HTML code directly into the comment submission process. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical security weakness in web applications. The vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary code in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits malicious content through the comment parameter field in the comments.php script. The system does not adequately filter or escape special characters in the input, allowing HTML tags and JavaScript code to be stored and subsequently executed when other users view the comments. This creates a persistent XSS attack vector where the malicious payload becomes part of the legitimate website content. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security practices in input handling and output sanitization, which are fundamental requirements for web application security. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform session hijacking, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft or data exfiltration.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-4496 is significant for any organization utilizing IwebNegar 1.1, as it compromises the integrity and security of user interactions on the platform. When exploited, this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to user accounts, data breaches, and potential compromise of the entire web application infrastructure. The persistent nature of stored XSS attacks means that the malicious code remains active until manually removed from the system, providing attackers with extended access windows. Organizations may experience reputational damage, regulatory compliance issues, and potential legal consequences due to inadequate protection of user data. The vulnerability also increases the risk of cascading security incidents, as compromised user sessions can provide attackers with additional access points within the network. Security teams must consider the broader implications of such vulnerabilities in their overall security posture and incident response planning.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-4496 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive sanitization of all user inputs, particularly those that are rendered back to users in web pages. The recommended approach involves using strict input validation that rejects or removes potentially dangerous characters and patterns before processing user submissions. Output encoding should be applied to all dynamic content that originates from user inputs, ensuring that HTML and JavaScript characters are properly escaped. Security patches or updates to IwebNegar 1.1 should be applied immediately to address this vulnerability, as the vendor has likely released remediation measures. Additionally, implementing a web application firewall can provide an additional layer of protection by detecting and blocking malicious payloads attempting to exploit this vulnerability. Regular security testing and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the web application. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can also help mitigate the impact of successful XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed within the browser context.