CVE-2006-7195 in Tomcat
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in implicit-objects.jsp in Apache Tomcat 5.0.0 through 5.0.30 and 5.5.0 through 5.5.17 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via certain header values.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-7195 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Apache Tomcat's implicit objects JSP page, specifically affecting versions ranging from 5.0.0 through 5.0.30 and 5.5.0 through 5.5.17. This weakness resides in the implicit-objects.jsp file which serves as a diagnostic utility for developers to inspect implicit objects available within the JSP environment. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before rendering it within the web response context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when malicious actors manipulate HTTP header values that are subsequently processed by the implicit-objects.jsp page. These headers, which typically contain information such as user agent strings, referer headers, or custom header fields, are directly incorporated into the page's output without proper HTML escaping or context-appropriate sanitization. This allows attackers to inject malicious script code that executes within the context of other users' browsers when they access the vulnerable page. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which classifies it as a weakness in input validation and output encoding, specifically targeting the improper handling of untrusted data in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web applications, and redirection to malicious sites. When exploited, the XSS flaw allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the victim's browser, potentially compromising user sessions and enabling further attacks such as privilege escalation or data exfiltration. The vulnerability affects the server-side JSP diagnostic page rather than application logic, making it particularly concerning as it may be accessible to unauthorized users who can leverage it to gain insights into the application's internal state and potentially identify additional attack vectors.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes the use of malicious web content to compromise systems. Attackers can craft HTTP requests containing malicious payloads in headers that, when processed by the vulnerable Tomcat instance, result in script execution within legitimate user sessions. The attack surface is broad since HTTP headers are commonly used throughout web applications and are often not properly sanitized in diagnostic or administrative pages. Organizations running affected Tomcat versions face significant risk as this vulnerability can be exploited without authentication and potentially provides attackers with information about the server configuration and application architecture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-7195 require immediate action including upgrading to patched versions of Apache Tomcat, specifically versions 5.0.31 and 5.5.18 or later where the XSS vulnerability has been addressed. Additionally, administrators should implement proper input validation and output encoding practices throughout their applications, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly escaped before inclusion in web responses. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent script execution. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify other potentially vulnerable pages or components that might be susceptible to similar input validation flaws, particularly focusing on diagnostic pages and administrative interfaces that may not receive the same level of security scrutiny as core application functionality.