CVE-2008-0436 in MegaBBS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in profile-upload/upload.asp in PD9 Software MegaBBS 1.5.14b allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the target parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0436 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within PD9 Software MegaBBS version 1.5.14b, specifically within the profile-upload/upload.asp component. This issue arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter user-supplied data before processing. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, making it susceptible to malicious script injection attacks that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the target parameter within the upload.asp script, where remote attackers can inject malicious web scripts or HTML content. When a victim accesses a compromised profile page or interacts with the affected upload functionality, the injected code executes within the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. This flaw operates at the application layer and leverages the trust relationship between the web application and its users, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where user profiles are frequently accessed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform persistent XSS attacks that may remain undetected for extended periods. In the context of MegaBBS, which serves as a bulletin board system, the vulnerability could allow attackers to inject malicious code into user profiles, affecting all users who view these compromised profiles. The attack surface is particularly broad given that bulletin board systems typically store user-generated content that is displayed to other users, creating multiple potential entry points for malicious code execution. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content and T1059.007 for execution through script-based attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary fix involves implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the upload.asp script to sanitize all user-supplied parameters, particularly the target parameter. Security measures should include the implementation of Content Security Policy headers, proper HTML entity encoding of output, and the adoption of parameterized queries or input sanitization libraries. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, while establishing regular security audits of legacy applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications, aligning with OWASP Top 10 2017 category A03: Injection, which emphasizes the need for proper input sanitization and output encoding to prevent code injection attacks. Additionally, this vulnerability underscores the necessity of secure coding practices and regular security assessments for legacy web applications, particularly those that have not received updates or patches for extended periods.