CVE-2006-7233 in Openfire
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the login form (login.jsp) of the admin console in Openfire (formerly Wildfire) 2.6.0, and possibly other versions before 3.5.3, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the url parameter.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-7233 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Openfire administration console's login form implementation. This issue affects versions 2.6.0 and potentially earlier releases up to version 3.5.2, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this open source instant messaging server. The vulnerability specifically targets the login.jsp page within the admin console, making it a prime target for attackers seeking unauthorized access to administrative functions. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within the web interface. This particular vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a weakness in input validation and output encoding, representing a classic XSS attack vector that can be exploited to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers manipulate the url parameter within the login form to inject malicious script code. The vulnerability's impact is amplified because it affects the administrative console, which typically grants access to sensitive configuration settings, user management, and system monitoring capabilities. When a victim visits the maliciously crafted URL containing the injected script, the script executes in their browser within the security context of the Openfire admin console, potentially enabling attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized administrative actions, or redirect users to malicious sites. This type of attack follows the ATT&CK framework's technique T1566 for initial access through malicious web content, while also enabling T1078 for valid accounts and T1531 for privilege escalation through compromised administrative sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can lead to complete compromise of the Openfire server's administrative functions. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially gain persistent access to the system, modify user accounts, disable security features, or exfiltrate sensitive data from the instant messaging infrastructure. The attack surface is particularly concerning because the admin console typically requires legitimate credentials to access, but once a user is tricked into visiting a malicious URL, the attacker can leverage the legitimate session to perform administrative tasks. Organizations using affected versions of Openfire face significant risk of unauthorized access to their messaging infrastructure, potentially compromising the confidentiality and integrity of all communications passing through the server. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding in web applications, particularly those handling administrative functions where the consequences of exploitation can be severe.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action including upgrading to Openfire version 3.5.3 or later, where the XSS vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts, proper input validation at multiple layers of the application, and regular security assessments of web interfaces. The fix typically involves implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all user-supplied input before rendering it within web pages, ensuring that any potentially malicious script code is neutralized before execution. Network administrators should also consider implementing CSP (Content Security Policy) headers to further mitigate the impact of potential XSS attacks by restricting script execution sources. Regular patch management processes should be established to ensure timely updates of all components within the messaging infrastructure, as this vulnerability represents a common class of flaws that can be prevented through proper security development practices and comprehensive testing procedures.