CVE-2008-0781 in MoinMoin
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in action/AttachFile.py in MoinMoin 1.5.8 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) message, (2) pagename, and (3) target filenames.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2019
The CVE-2008-0781 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in MoinMoin version 1.5.8 and earlier, affecting the action/AttachFile.py component. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the wiki software's file attachment functionality, creating exploitable entry points for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's response. The flaw specifically targets three distinct input parameters including message, pagename, and target filenames, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through multiple vectors within the file attachment workflow.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input before processing it within the file attachment action. When users attempt to upload or attach files, the system accepts parameters containing potentially malicious code without adequate filtering or encoding mechanisms. This allows attackers to craft specially formatted input strings that, when processed by the AttachFile.py script, get executed within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is classified as a classic stored XSS attack pattern where malicious payloads are persisted in the application's data storage and executed whenever legitimate users access the affected pages.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using MoinMoin wiki platforms, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code in the browsers of other users who view affected pages. The impact extends beyond simple script execution to potentially allow for session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to user sessions, escalate privileges, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability affects the entire user base of the wiki platform, as any user who views pages containing maliciously injected content becomes a potential victim of the XSS attack.
The security implications of CVE-2008-0781 align with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in software applications. This classification indicates that the vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1566, specifically targeting the initial access phase through malicious file attachments or web content injection techniques. Organizations using affected MoinMoin versions should implement immediate mitigations including input sanitization, output encoding, and parameter validation to prevent exploitation. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing comprehensive security testing procedures to identify and remediate similar flaws in web applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of MoinMoin to version 1.6.0 or later, where the XSS issues have been addressed through improved input validation and sanitization. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, establish strict content security policies to prevent script execution, and conduct regular security assessments of wiki platforms. The remediation process must include thorough testing of the patched environment to ensure that the XSS vulnerabilities have been effectively resolved while maintaining the functionality of legitimate file attachment features.