CVE-2008-0155 in EvilBoard
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in EvilBoard 0.1a (Alpha) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the c parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0155 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the EvilBoard 0.1a (Alpha) web application. This vulnerability exists in the index.php file where the application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into web responses. The specific parameter 'c' serves as the attack vector, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting weaknesses in web applications. The flaw demonstrates a classic failure in input validation and output encoding practices that are fundamental to web security.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing script code and passes it through the 'c' parameter in the index.php script. When the vulnerable application processes this input and reflects it back to users without proper sanitization or encoding, the injected code executes in the victim's browser session. This creates a persistent threat where any user visiting the affected page could unknowingly execute malicious code, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects a core application component that likely handles user interactions and content display.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the application environment. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for scripting and T1566.001 for spearphishing with a link, enabling adversaries to establish persistent access through user interaction. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of user sessions, potentially allowing attackers to access sensitive data or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users. Organizations running this version of EvilBoard face significant risk as the application likely handles user-generated content and interactions that could be exploited for broader system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-0155 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The application should sanitize all user inputs through whitelisting or proper escaping techniques before rendering any content. Developers must implement context-aware encoding for different output contexts including HTML, JavaScript, and URL parameters. Additionally, the system should employ Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other application components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to web application security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten project. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Given the age of this vulnerability, it is crucial that affected systems undergo immediate remediation through patching or code modification to prevent exploitation by threat actors who may actively target such weaknesses.