CVE-2006-6196 in iDMS Pro Image Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the search functionality in Fixit iDMS Pro Image Gallery allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a search field (txtsearchtext parameter).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-6196 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Fixit iDMS Pro Image Gallery application's search functionality. This security weakness specifically targets the txtsearchtext parameter, which processes user input from the search field without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The vulnerability exists in the web application's handling of user-supplied data, creating an attack vector that allows malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The affected application processes search queries directly without proper input filtering, making it susceptible to injection attacks that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which defines "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')". The flaw manifests when user input containing malicious script tags or HTML elements is submitted through the search interface and subsequently rendered back to other users without proper encoding or sanitization. The attack requires minimal sophistication as it exploits the application's failure to validate and sanitize input data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. This allows threat actors to craft malicious payloads that can execute in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or defacement of the gallery interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks within the context of the compromised web application. Attackers can leverage this weakness to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject content that appears legitimate to end users. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the image gallery system by potentially allowing unauthorized access to user data, modification of displayed content, and disruption of normal application operations. Users interacting with the gallery may unknowingly execute malicious code, leading to persistent security issues that can affect multiple visitors over time. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit the flaw.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user input through proper validation routines that reject or escape potentially dangerous characters and patterns before processing search queries. Web application developers should implement proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content generated from user input, ensuring that any special characters are properly escaped to prevent script execution. Additionally, the application should employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the sources from which scripts can be executed within the gallery interface. The fix should include input length restrictions and the implementation of a whitelist approach for acceptable characters in search fields. Security measures should also incorporate regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. Organizations should maintain updated security patches and conduct regular vulnerability assessments to prevent exploitation of known weaknesses in web applications, particularly those involving user input handling and dynamic content generation.