CVE-2008-0181 in Enterprise Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Admin portlet in Liferay Portal 4.3.6 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Shutdown message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2024
The CVE-2008-0181 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Liferay Portal version 4.3.6 within its Admin portlet functionality. This vulnerability specifically targets the shutdown message handling mechanism, creating a pathway for remote authenticated attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the administrative interface, allowing malicious actors with valid credentials to manipulate the system's shutdown notifications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the shutdown message parameter within the Admin portlet. When authenticated users interact with the shutdown functionality, the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in the web interface. This inadequate sanitization enables attackers to inject malicious javascript code or html elements that persist in the system's administrative notifications. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected cross-site scripting issue under CWE-79, which specifically addresses the improper handling of untrusted data in web applications. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices that violate fundamental web security principles outlined in OWASP Top Ten and the corresponding CWE taxonomy.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. An authenticated attacker with administrative privileges can craft shutdown messages containing malicious payloads that execute when other administrators view the shutdown notifications. This creates a persistent threat vector where compromised administrative accounts can be used to escalate privileges, modify system configurations, or exfiltrate sensitive data. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on Liferay Portal's administrative features, as it undermines the trust model between legitimate users and the system's administrative interface, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-0181 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the Liferay Portal administrative components. Organizations should apply the official security patches released by Liferay to address the specific sanitization issues in the Admin portlet shutdown functionality. Additionally, implementing proper content security policies and regular security audits of administrative interfaces can prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. The remediation efforts should align with NIST cybersecurity frameworks and the ATT&CK framework's defensive strategies for web application security, particularly focusing on preventing command injection and cross-site scripting attacks through proper input sanitization and output encoding techniques.