CVE-2008-0808 in Ikiwiki
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the meta plugin in Ikiwiki before 1.1.47 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via meta tags.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2019
The CVE-2008-0808 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Ikiwiki content management system that affected versions prior to 1.1.47. This vulnerability specifically targets the meta plugin component, which is responsible for handling metadata within the wiki system. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code through carefully crafted meta tags, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied metadata parameters, creating an exploitable vector that could be leveraged by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code in the context of affected users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is directly incorporated into web pages without proper sanitization or encoding. In the context of Ikiwiki, the meta plugin fails to adequately validate or escape special characters in meta tag content, allowing attackers to inject HTML sequences that get rendered as part of the web page. This creates a persistent XSS vulnerability that can be exploited through various attack vectors including user-generated content, comments, or even administrative metadata fields that accept external input. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1059.005, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code through web-based interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even execute more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft through the exploitation of the user's authenticated browser session. Users who interact with compromised Ikiwiki instances may unknowingly execute malicious scripts that can capture their credentials or perform unauthorized actions on their behalf. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where Ikiwiki is used for collaborative content management, as it can be exploited through seemingly legitimate user contributions or administrative metadata updates. Organizations relying on Ikiwiki for documentation or knowledge management systems face significant risks, as the vulnerability could be exploited to compromise the entire wiki infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-0808 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Ikiwiki installations to version 1.1.47 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization of meta tag parameters. Administrators should implement comprehensive input filtering and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious content from being processed or rendered within the application. Additionally, security measures such as Content Security Policy headers should be implemented to limit script execution capabilities and reduce the potential impact of successful XSS attacks. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or components, while user education about the risks of submitting untrusted content can help reduce exploitation opportunities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and proper security practices in web application development, particularly in content management systems that process user-generated content.