CVE-2007-0308 in WebGUI
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Plain Black WebGUI before 7.3.4 (beta) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via Wiki Page titles.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0308 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Plain Black WebGUI application prior to version 7.3.4. This security weakness specifically affects the handling of Wiki Page titles, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability operates by failing to properly sanitize user input when processing Wiki page titles, allowing attackers to embed malicious payloads that execute when other users view these pages.
This XSS vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a fundamental web application security flaw that occurs when an application includes untrusted data in web pages without proper validation or escaping. The specific nature of this vulnerability demonstrates how insufficient input validation can lead to severe consequences in web-based collaborative environments where users expect to be able to contribute content safely. The Plain Black WebGUI, being a web-based administration and content management platform, creates an ideal environment for such attacks to propagate through user-generated content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can potentially enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, deface web pages, or redirect users to malicious sites. When users navigate to Wiki pages containing malicious scripts, their browsers execute these payloads, potentially compromising their sessions and exposing confidential data. The vulnerability affects all users of the affected WebGUI versions, making it particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where multiple users interact with shared content. Attackers can craft malicious titles that include JavaScript code, iframe tags, or other HTML elements designed to exploit the XSS weakness.
From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with several techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059 category of Command and Scripting Interpreter, where adversaries can leverage XSS to execute malicious code in victims' browsers. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Wiki page titles are often used in navigation menus, search results, and other visible interfaces where users frequently interact with content. The lack of proper input sanitization in this context creates a persistent threat vector that remains active until the vulnerability is patched, potentially allowing attackers to maintain access to compromised systems over extended periods.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate application of the security patch released in version 7.3.4, which implements proper input validation and output encoding for Wiki page titles. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input sanitization measures, including the use of HTML escaping mechanisms and content security policies to prevent script execution in web applications. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on input validation should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. The implementation of web application firewalls and runtime application self-protection technologies can provide additional layers of defense against such attacks, while user education about the risks of clicking on untrusted links or content remains a crucial component of overall security posture.