CVE-2007-6232 in Admin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in FTP Admin 0.1.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the error parameter in an error page action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6232 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the FTP Admin 0.1.0 web application, specifically targeting the index.php file. This security weakness resides in the error page handling mechanism where user-supplied input from the error parameter is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered back to the web browser. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and demonstrates a fundamental failure in input validation and output encoding practices that are critical for preventing malicious code execution in web environments.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or filter user-controllable data within the error parameter. When an error occurs during FTP administration operations, the system constructs an error page that incorporates the error parameter value directly into the HTML response without adequate sanitization. This creates an opportunity for remote attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that will execute in the context of other users' browsers who view the error page. The vulnerability is classified as reflected XSS since the malicious payload is reflected back to users through the application's error handling mechanism rather than being stored in the application's database.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute unauthorized administrative actions. An attacker could craft a malicious URL containing a script payload in the error parameter that, when visited by an authenticated administrator, would execute within the administrator's browser context. This could lead to complete compromise of the FTP administration interface, allowing unauthorized access to file systems, user accounts, and potentially broader network resources. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages legitimate error handling functionality, making it more difficult to detect and prevent through traditional security measures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-6232 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding techniques. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through strict validation and encoding before incorporating it into any web response. This aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities and recommends defensive programming practices including the use of context-appropriate encoding mechanisms such as HTML entity encoding for output. Organizations should also implement the principle of least privilege by ensuring that error messages do not reveal sensitive system information and should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering tactics involving malicious web content delivery.
This vulnerability highlights the broader security challenges faced by legacy web applications and emphasizes the need for comprehensive security testing including dynamic analysis and input validation reviews. The flaw represents a common pattern in web application development where security considerations are often overlooked in favor of functional requirements, particularly in older applications that may not have been designed with modern security practices in mind. Organizations should prioritize patching or upgrading vulnerable applications, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar weaknesses in their web infrastructure that could be exploited by adversaries using techniques described in the ATT&CK framework.