CVE-2008-0180 in Enterprise Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in themes/_unstyled/templates/init.vm in Liferay Portal 4.3.6 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Greeting field in a User Profile.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-0180 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Liferay Portal 4.3.6 platform that specifically targets the user profile management functionality. This vulnerability exists in the themes/_unstyled/templates/init.vm template file, which serves as a foundational component for rendering portal interfaces and user-specific content. The issue arises when authenticated users with valid portal credentials attempt to modify their user profile information, particularly focusing on the Greeting field that is susceptible to malicious input injection. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data corruption as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML content within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper sanitization of user input within the Greeting field of user profiles. When an authenticated user submits malicious content into this field, the portal fails to adequately validate or escape the input before rendering it in the web interface. This processing gap creates an XSS vector where attackers can embed malicious scripts that execute in the browser context of other users who view the compromised profile. The vulnerability specifically targets the init.vm template which is responsible for initializing portal components and rendering user-specific content, making it a critical point of failure in the application's security architecture. According to CWE-79, this vulnerability falls under the category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a well-documented weakness that enables attackers to inject client-side scripts into web applications. The ATT&CK framework would classify this as a technique involving code injection and credential access, potentially allowing adversaries to escalate privileges through session manipulation.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-0180 extends beyond immediate script execution capabilities as it fundamentally compromises the trust model within the Liferay Portal environment. When exploited, this vulnerability can enable attackers to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or even executing administrative commands if the targeted users possess elevated privileges. The authenticated nature of the vulnerability means that attackers do not require external access to the portal to exploit it, as they can leverage existing user accounts to inject malicious content that affects other users. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on Liferay Portal for business operations, as compromised user profiles can serve as entry points for broader network infiltration. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of user data, potentially exposing sensitive information and undermining the security posture of the entire portal infrastructure. Organizations using this version of Liferay Portal face potential data breaches, unauthorized access to user accounts, and possible compromise of the underlying application server.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-0180 should focus on both immediate patching and defensive measures. The most effective solution involves upgrading to a patched version of Liferay Portal that addresses the input validation issues in the user profile handling components. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious content from being stored or executed within the portal environment. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while proper validation of user input fields including the Greeting field should be enforced through both client-side and server-side controls. Security measures should include regular vulnerability assessments of portal components, monitoring of user profile modifications, and implementation of web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns. According to industry best practices for XSS prevention, developers should employ proper HTML escaping techniques, utilize secure coding standards, and maintain regular security updates to address known vulnerabilities in web application frameworks. Organizations should also consider implementing user access controls and privilege management to limit the potential impact of compromised accounts.