CVE-2008-0131 in Dating Site
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in login_form.asp in Instant Softwares Dating Site allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the msg parameter, a different product than CVE-2006-6022. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0131 represents a cross-site scripting flaw located within the login_form.asp component of Instant Softwares Dating Site software. This security weakness specifically affects the handling of user input through the msg parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability operates independently from CVE-2006-6022, indicating it affects a distinct product within the same vendor's portfolio. The attack vector relies on the improper sanitization or encoding of user-supplied input, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that persist in the application's response.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Dating Site application's login form processing logic. When the msg parameter is submitted through the login_form.asp script, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it in the web page context. This allows an attacker to craft malicious input containing script tags or other HTML elements that execute when other users view the affected page. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize input, specifically categorized as a reflected cross-site scripting attack where the malicious script is reflected back to users through the application's response. The attack requires no special privileges or authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by anyone with access to the vulnerable application's login interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks within the application's user base. An attacker could potentially redirect users to malicious domains, steal session cookies, or even modify the application's interface to deceive users into providing sensitive information. The vulnerability affects the core authentication mechanism of the dating site, potentially compromising user accounts and personal data stored within the platform. The reflected nature of the XSS attack means that the malicious payload must be triggered by a user clicking on a specially crafted link or visiting a page containing the malicious input, making it particularly insidious as it can be delivered through various channels including email, forums, or social media platforms. The attack could result in unauthorized access to user accounts, data exfiltration, and potential compromise of the entire application infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user input through proper encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding before rendering any user-supplied content in the application's response. Implementing a Content Security Policy (CSP) header can provide additional protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed within the application context. The application should also employ proper input validation routines that reject or filter out potentially malicious characters and patterns commonly associated with XSS attacks. Regular security code reviews and automated vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar issues within the application's codebase. Additionally, the implementation of a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with XSS detection capabilities can provide an additional layer of protection against such attacks. The fix should align with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and should be validated through comprehensive penetration testing to ensure the vulnerability has been properly addressed. Organizations should also consider implementing proper error handling that prevents the exposure of internal application details that could aid attackers in developing more sophisticated exploitation techniques.