CVE-2006-5843 in Speedywiki
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in Speedywiki 2.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the showRevisions parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2026
The CVE-2006-5843 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the Speedywiki 2.0 web application that exposes users to potential code injection attacks. This vulnerability specifically affects the index.php script and manifests through the showRevisions parameter, which fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it within the web page context. The flaw resides in the application's failure to implement adequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of affected users' browsers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a critical weakness in web applications. The vulnerability operates by allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts through the showRevisions parameter, which is likely used to display revision history or version control information within the wiki interface. When the application processes this parameter without proper sanitization, it inadvertently executes attacker-controlled code within the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised user environment.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to conduct persistent XSS attacks against users of the Speedywiki 2.0 application. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no authentication and can be executed through simple URL manipulation, making it highly accessible to threat actors. Once exploited, the malicious scripts can access cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive information stored in the browser, potentially allowing attackers to impersonate users or escalate privileges within the wiki environment. The vulnerability also supports more sophisticated attack chains where the injected scripts could redirect users to phishing sites or establish command and control channels.
The remediation approach for CVE-2006-5843 should prioritize implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. Developers must ensure that all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in dynamic content generation, undergo strict sanitization before being rendered in web pages. This includes implementing Content Security Policy headers, using proper HTML encoding functions, and validating input against expected formats. The fix should align with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering tactics that often involve web-based exploits like XSS. Additionally, the application should employ proper parameter validation for the showRevisions parameter specifically, ensuring that any input is checked against a whitelist of acceptable values or properly escaped before processing.
Organizations using Speedywiki 2.0 should implement immediate defensive measures including web application firewall rules that can detect and block suspicious parameter patterns, regular security scanning of the application for similar vulnerabilities, and comprehensive user education regarding the risks of clicking untrusted links. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and serves as a reminder that even seemingly innocuous parameters can become attack vectors when proper security controls are absent. Implementation of security patches should be prioritized, and the application should be reviewed for similar XSS vulnerabilities in other parameters or scripts to prevent future incidents.