CVE-2006-4822 in emuCMS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in index.php in eMuSOFT emuCMS 0.3 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) query or (2) page parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-4822 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting eMuSOFT emuCMS versions 0.3 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the index.php script and demonstrates a classic input validation failure that enables remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of victim browsers. The flaw specifically impacts two parameter inputs named query and page, which are processed without adequate sanitization or output encoding mechanisms. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws according to the CWE database. The attack vector allows remote adversaries to inject arbitrary web script or HTML content, potentially leading to session hijacking, defacement, or further exploitation of the affected system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied input parameters before incorporating them into dynamic web content. When the query and page parameters are passed to index.php, the application directly incorporates these values into HTML output without appropriate encoding or filtering mechanisms. This lack of input sanitization creates an environment where attackers can craft malicious payloads that execute in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects core application functionality and can be exploited through simple URL manipulation, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1566.001 (Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment) as attackers can leverage XSS to deliver malicious payloads or redirect users to compromised sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking attacks, steal user credentials, or redirect users to malicious websites. An attacker could craft a URL containing malicious JavaScript that would execute when a victim visits the compromised emuCMS page, potentially stealing cookies or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of the user. The vulnerability affects the entire user base of the affected emuCMS installations, making it particularly dangerous as it could be exploited against any visitor to the compromised website. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in the application's input handling methodology and demonstrates poor secure coding practices that violate industry standards such as OWASP Top Ten. The lack of proper output encoding and input validation creates a persistent threat that remains active until the underlying code is properly patched or the vulnerable application is upgraded.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-4822 must focus on immediate remediation through patching the affected emuCMS version to a secure release that implements proper input validation and output encoding. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization mechanisms that filter or escape special characters in user-supplied parameters before processing them. The recommended approach includes implementing strict parameter validation that rejects or encodes potentially dangerous input patterns, particularly those containing HTML tags, script elements, or unusual character sequences. Additionally, organizations should deploy Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts, which provides an additional layer of defense against XSS attacks. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and code reviews to identify and remediate similar input validation flaws across all web applications. Given the age of the affected emuCMS version, organizations should consider migrating to more modern CMS platforms that incorporate built-in security measures and regular security updates to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future.