CVE-2006-7073 in Attachment Mod
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Opentools Attachment Mod before 2.4.5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML in Internet Explorer via unknown vectors related to the uploaded attachments form. NOTE: some details were obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2017
The CVE-2006-7073 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Opentools Attachment Mod version 2.4.4 and earlier, which was widely used in web applications for handling file attachments. This vulnerability specifically affects Internet Explorer browsers and stems from insufficient input validation within the attachment upload form processing mechanism. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information or complete session hijacking. The vulnerability's classification as a client-side attack vector means that malicious code can be injected directly into the user's browsing environment without requiring server-side compromise, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user web applications where users may be unaware of the malicious content they are interacting with.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the attachment upload form, where attackers can inject malicious HTML or script code into file names or metadata associated with uploaded attachments. This injection happens during the processing of user-submitted data, and the vulnerable system fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it in the browser context. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it leverages the trust relationship between the user and the web application, allowing attackers to bypass traditional security measures that might protect against server-side attacks. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws, where the weakness allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects Internet Explorer, which was historically more vulnerable to certain types of script injection attacks compared to other browsers of that era.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-7073 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or even execute arbitrary commands on the victim's machine if combined with other exploitation techniques. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that rely heavily on file attachment functionality, such as forums, content management systems, or collaborative platforms where users can upload documents or media files. The attack can be executed through various means including direct manipulation of form parameters, crafting malicious file names with embedded scripts, or using social engineering to convince users to click on infected attachments. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability provides a relatively low-effort path to compromising user sessions and accessing sensitive data within the application context. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers Phishing with Malicious Attachments, as attackers can use this flaw to create malicious file upload scenarios that appear legitimate to users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the attachment processing system. Organizations should implement comprehensive validation of all user-submitted data, particularly filenames and metadata associated with uploaded files, ensuring that any potentially malicious content is properly escaped or removed before storage or display. The most effective remediation involves updating to Opentools Attachment Mod version 2.4.5 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers, using proper HTML escaping functions, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security measures such as file type restrictions, size limitations, and server-side validation of uploaded content to prevent attackers from exploiting similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust input validation as fundamental security practices that should be integrated into all web application development and maintenance processes.