CVE-2008-0582 in Skype
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-zone scripting vulnerability in the Internet Explorer web control in Skype 3.1 through 3.6.0.244 on Windows allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML in the Local Machine Zone via the Full Name field of a reviewer of a business item entry, accessible through (1) the SkypeFind dialog and (2) a skype:?skypefind URI for the skype: URI handler.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-0582 represents a critical cross-zone scripting flaw within Skype's Internet Explorer web control implementation. This security weakness affects Skype versions 3.1 through 3.6.0.244 running on Windows operating systems, specifically targeting the Local Machine Zone security context that typically enforces the most restrictive security policies for local applications. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of user input within the business item review system where the Full Name field fails to adequately sanitize or validate input before rendering within the web control context.
The technical exploitation mechanism involves the manipulation of the Full Name field within business item entries, which are accessible through two primary attack vectors: the SkypeFind dialog interface and the skype: URI handler mechanism. When a malicious actor crafts specially formatted input containing HTML or JavaScript code within the Full Name field, this content gets executed within the context of the Local Machine Zone, bypassing normal security boundaries that should protect against cross-zone scripting attacks. This behavior directly violates the fundamental security principle of zone isolation that prevents lower-privilege zones from executing code with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Local Machine Zone, potentially enabling privilege escalation attacks. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability can be triggered through the skype: URI handler, which means attackers could craft malicious links that automatically exploit this vulnerability when clicked by unsuspecting users. This creates a significant risk for social engineering campaigns where victims might be诱导 to click on malicious Skype URIs, leading to unauthorized code execution on their systems.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-74 and CWE-79 classifications, which address injection flaws and cross-site scripting vulnerabilities respectively, while also demonstrating characteristics of the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. The attack requires minimal user interaction beyond clicking a malicious link or interacting with the SkypeFind dialog, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Skype is commonly used for business communications. The Local Machine Zone protection model that should prevent such attacks is effectively bypassed, creating a dangerous security boundary violation that could allow attackers to escalate privileges or execute malicious payloads with system-level access.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected Skype versions, implementation of network-level controls to block skype: URI handlers, and user education regarding the dangers of clicking untrusted links. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict Skype's access to system resources and disable unnecessary web control functionality. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices, particularly when handling user-generated content in privileged execution contexts. Additionally, administrators should monitor for suspicious SkypeFind activity and implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.