CVE-2008-0775 in Smf Shoutbox
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in sboxDB.php in Simple Machines Forum (SMF) Shoutbox 1.14 through 1.16b allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via strings to the shoutbox form that start with "&#", contain the desired script, and end with ";".
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0775 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Simple Machines Forum Shoutbox component version 1.14 through 1.16b. This security weakness resides in the sboxDB.php file and specifically targets the shoutbox form processing functionality that handles user input. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers by exploiting improper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The attack vector requires the malicious input to begin with "&#" followed by the desired script content and conclude with a semicolon character, creating a specific pattern that bypasses standard sanitization measures.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The flaw demonstrates a classic case of insufficient input sanitization where the application fails to properly validate and escape user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses. The specific conditions required for exploitation - beginning with "&#" and ending with ";" - indicate that the vulnerability stems from improper handling of HTML entity encoding and script injection points within the shoutbox functionality. The attack can be executed through a variety of malicious scripts including but not limited to cookie theft, session hijacking, or redirection attacks that compromise user sessions and data confidentiality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to potentially enable complete session compromise and user data theft. When exploited successfully, attackers can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify page content, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The shoutbox feature typically serves as a public-facing component where users can post messages, making it an ideal target for malicious actors seeking to exploit the vulnerability. The vulnerability affects all users who have access to the shoutbox functionality, potentially compromising thousands of users within affected forums. This represents a significant risk to forum administrators and their user communities, as the attack can be executed without requiring any special privileges or authentication.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-0775 should include immediate patching of the affected SMF Shoutbox component to version 1.17 or later, which contains the necessary input validation and output encoding fixes. Administrators should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures that properly escape all user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses, particularly focusing on HTML entity encoding and script tag filtering. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth protection by restricting script execution within the forum environment. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other forum components or custom modifications. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts, and establish proper monitoring procedures to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege in web application development, ensuring that all user input is properly validated and sanitized before being processed or displayed.