# CVE-2006-4542: Cross-site scripting in n/a

> Remote attackers can exploit null byte handling flaws to perform XSS, read source code, and potentially execute programs in Webmin and Usermin.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.8 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 5 Sep 2006
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-r78v-6mh4-m4rm

## What is CVE-2006-4542?

CVE-2006-4542 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Webmin Webmin, published on 5 Sep 2006. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Webmin before 1.296 and Usermin before 1.226 do not properly handle a URL with a null ("%00") character, which allows remote attackers to conduct cross-site scripting (XSS), read CGI program source code, list directories, and possibly execute programs.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2006-4542?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Usermin Usermin, Webmin Webmin.

## How do I fix CVE-2006-4542?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2006-4542 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2006-4542 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Webmin Webmin

- [CVE-2005-1177](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-1177/): Unknown vulnerability in (1) Webmin and (2) Usermin before 1.200 causes Webmin to change permissions and ownership of configuration files, with unknown impact. (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2005-3042](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-3042/): Auth bypass in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2004-1468](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-1468/): Command injection in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2002-0756](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2002-0756/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2002-0757](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2002-0757/): Auth bypass in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2006-4542 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2006-4542 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in Webmin Webmin, published on 5 Sep 2006. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2006-4542 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Webmin Webmin. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-4542/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-4542/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2006-4542
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2006-4542
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2006-4542

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-4542/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.