CVE-2008-0540 in trixbox
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in trixbox 2.4.2.0 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the query string to index.php in (1) user/ or (2) maint/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0540 represents a critical security flaw in trixbox 2.4.2.0, a popular open-source unified communications platform. This vulnerability manifests as multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that permit remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected web applications. The flaw specifically affects the index.php files located in the user/ and maint/ directories of the trixbox application, making it particularly dangerous as these directories typically handle user authentication and system maintenance functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the trixbox web interface. When users navigate to the affected pages and provide malicious payloads through the query string parameters, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input data before rendering it in web responses. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript code or HTML content that executes in the browsers of unsuspecting users who visit the compromised pages. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no authentication to exploit, making it highly accessible to remote attackers. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws due to insufficient input validation and output encoding.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-0540 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform session hijacking by stealing authentication cookies, redirect users to malicious sites for phishing attacks, or inject malicious code that can exfiltrate sensitive information from the trixbox system. Since trixbox serves as a unified communications platform handling voice, video, and data services, successful exploitation could compromise entire communication infrastructures. The vulnerability affects the administrative interfaces, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to system management functions, modify user accounts, or disrupt communication services. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 technique for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript" and represents a classic example of persistent security weaknesses in web applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the trixbox application to version 2.4.2.1 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive web application firewall rules to detect and block suspicious query string parameters, particularly those containing common XSS payload patterns such as script tags or javascript protocols. Network administrators should conduct thorough security assessments of their trixbox deployments to identify all instances of the vulnerable software and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and robust input sanitization measures can provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and regular security updates in maintaining the integrity of unified communications platforms, particularly those handling sensitive business data and communication services.