CVE-2008-0583 in Skype
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-zone scripting vulnerability in the Internet Explorer web control in Skype 3.6.0.244, and earlier 3.5.x and 3.6.x versions, on Windows allows user-assisted remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML in the Local Machine Zone via the Description and unspecified other metadata fields of a Metacafe movie submitted by Metacafe Pro to the Skype video gallery, accessible through a search within the (1) "Add video to chat" or (2) "Add video to mood" dialog, a different vector than CVE-2008-0454.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-0583 represents a cross-zone scripting flaw within Skype's Internet Explorer web control implementation, specifically affecting versions 3.6.0.244 and earlier 3.5.x and 3.6.x releases on Windows platforms. This security weakness resides in the Skype video gallery functionality where users can add videos to chat or mood settings through specific dialog interfaces. The vulnerability manifests when Metacafe Pro users submit movies to the Skype video gallery, creating a potential attack vector through metadata fields including Description and unspecified other metadata elements. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content that bypasses normal security boundaries, specifically targeting the Local Machine Zone which typically enforces stricter security policies than other zones.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within Skype's web control component that processes metadata from external sources. When users search for videos within the "Add video to chat" or "Add video to mood" dialog interfaces, the system fails to properly filter or escape special characters and script tags from the metadata fields. This cross-zone scripting vulnerability specifically exploits the trust relationship between different security zones in Internet Explorer where content from less trusted zones can be executed within more trusted contexts. The flaw operates under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as a result of insufficient input validation and output encoding, while also aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 for exploitation of web application vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it enables attackers to execute malicious code within the context of the Local Machine Zone, potentially leading to privilege escalation or full system compromise. An attacker could craft malicious metadata in Metacafe video submissions that, when viewed through Skype's video gallery interface, would execute arbitrary code on the victim's system. This creates a persistent threat vector where any user browsing the Skype video gallery could be compromised simply by viewing a maliciously crafted video description or metadata field. The user-assisted nature of the attack requires the victim to actively search for and view the malicious content, but the attack surface remains broad as the vulnerability affects all versions up to 3.6.0.244.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate version updates to Skype 3.6.0.245 or later, which presumably contain patches addressing the cross-zone scripting flaw. Organizations should also implement network-level controls to restrict access to external video content sources and consider deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of viewing external video content through Skype's gallery functionality and should be advised to avoid clicking on suspicious or untrusted video links. Security administrators should monitor for any exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and consider implementing browser security policies that restrict cross-zone scripting capabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and the need for robust security boundaries even within trusted applications, particularly those that integrate third-party web content processing capabilities.