CVE-2006-6746 in Xt-News
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Xt-News 0.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the id_news parameter to (1) add_comment.php or (2) show_news.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2018
The CVE-2006-6746 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Xt-News version 0.1, a content management system designed for news publication and comment management. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user input parameters, specifically the id_news parameter that is processed through two distinct script files. The flaw enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers, creating a significant security risk for the entire user base of the affected system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the Xt-News application. When users submit comments or view news articles, the id_news parameter is directly incorporated into the web page output without adequate sanitization or encoding. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that persist in the application's database or are immediately executed upon page rendering. The vulnerability affects both add_comment.php and show_news.php scripts, indicating a systemic issue in how the application processes and displays user-provided identifiers. The flaw aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, creating potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks within the affected environment. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The persistent nature of the XSS vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious code would continue to execute for all subsequent users who view the affected news items or comment sections. This creates a continuous threat vector that could compromise user privacy and application integrity, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information or complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective remediation involves sanitizing all user-provided input, particularly the id_news parameter, before processing or storing it within the database. Implementing proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content ensures that any potentially malicious scripts are rendered harmless when displayed to users. Additionally, developers should employ Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution, and implement proper access controls to limit the impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, emphasizing the need for robust application security practices in web development environments.