CVE-2008-0494 in Endian
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in vpnum/userslist.php in Endian Firewall 2.1.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the psearch parameter. 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 • 09/15/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0494 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw located within the Endian Firewall 2.1.2 web interface, specifically in the vpnum/userslist.php component. This vulnerability exposes the system to remote code execution risks where malicious actors can inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content through the psearch parameter, fundamentally compromising the integrity of the web application's input validation mechanisms. The flaw resides in the application's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input before processing and displaying it within the web interface, creating an avenue for attackers to manipulate the application's behavior and potentially escalate their privileges or access sensitive information.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows the standard XSS attack pattern where an attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or other HTML elements that get executed in the context of other users' browsers who visit the compromised page. The psearch parameter serves as the primary attack vector, allowing adversaries to inject JavaScript code that executes when the affected page loads, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. This particular vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which defines the weakness of cross-site scripting in web applications, specifically categorizing it as a code injection vulnerability that occurs when untrusted data is improperly handled in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it represents a fundamental security breach that undermines the trust model of the Endian Firewall's web interface. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users, potentially gaining unauthorized access to administrative functions or sensitive network information. The vulnerability affects the web-based management interface of the firewall, which typically requires legitimate credentials to access, making the impact more severe as attackers can bypass authentication mechanisms through script injection or manipulate the interface to perform unauthorized actions. This weakness creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by attackers without requiring physical access to the network or direct system compromise.
Organizations utilizing Endian Firewall 2.1.2 should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in search and display functions. The recommended approach involves implementing proper parameter sanitization techniques that filter or escape special characters before processing user input, ensuring that any potentially malicious scripts are neutralized before execution. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policies (CSP) can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed within the browser context. Security professionals should also consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular patch updates to address known vulnerabilities. The remediation efforts should align with industry best practices established by frameworks such as OWASP Top 10 and NIST guidelines for web application security, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that could affect other components of the firewall's web interface.