CVE-2006-5847 in FreeWebshop
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in FreeWebshop 2.2.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the cat parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/27/2026
The CVE-2006-5847 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw that affected FreeWebshop version 2.2.2 and earlier implementations. This vulnerability specifically targets the index.php script within the web application's codebase, creating a security weakness that enables malicious actors to execute unauthorized scripts in the context of users' browsers. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the application's parameter handling system, particularly when processing the cat parameter that users submit through web forms or direct URL manipulation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script code within the cat parameter value and submits it to the vulnerable FreeWebshop application. The application fails to properly sanitize or encode this input before rendering it in the web page output, allowing the malicious script to execute in the victim's browser context. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities in software applications. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the application's data validation and output encoding practices, where user-supplied data enters the system without proper security checks before being rendered to end users.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-5847 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious websites. Attackers could potentially steal user authentication cookies, capture sensitive information entered into web forms, or manipulate the application's behavior to redirect users to phishing sites. The vulnerability particularly affects web applications that rely on user-generated content or parameter-based navigation, making it a significant concern for e-commerce platforms and content management systems that process user inputs. According to ATT&CK framework category T1190, this vulnerability represents a technique used to compromise web applications through client-side exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. Developers should employ parameterized queries and strict input sanitization techniques to prevent malicious code from being executed within the application context. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper HTML encoding of all user-supplied data can significantly reduce the risk of successful exploitation. Additionally, upgrading to patched versions of FreeWebshop or implementing web application firewalls can provide immediate protection against this vulnerability. Security practitioners should also consider implementing automated security scanning tools and regular penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in other applications and maintain a comprehensive defense-in-depth strategy against web-based attacks.