CVE-2008-0828 in ATutor
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in ATutor 1.5.5 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) attributes such as style and onmouseover in (a) forum post or (b) mail; or (2) the website field of the profile.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-0828 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting ATutor version 1.5.5 and earlier systems. This flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of legitimate user sessions, potentially compromising user data and system integrity. The vulnerability manifests through multiple attack vectors that exploit improper input validation mechanisms within the application's web interface. The security implications are particularly severe given that ATutor is a widely used learning management system that handles sensitive educational data and user communications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input across several key application components. Attackers can leverage XSS opportunities by injecting malicious code through specific HTML attributes including style and onmouseover event handlers within forum posts or email communications. Additionally, the profile website field presents another injection point where attackers can embed malicious scripts. These attack vectors align with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding. The flaw demonstrates poor application security practices where user-generated content is not adequately filtered or escaped before being rendered in web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to potentially enable session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. When users view compromised forum posts or profile information, their browsers execute the injected malicious code, creating opportunities for attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The attack surface is particularly broad given that forum functionality and user profiles are core components of learning management systems. This vulnerability could be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to educational content, manipulate course materials, or compromise the privacy of thousands of users within affected institutions.
Security mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied content using established XSS prevention libraries and frameworks that properly escape HTML characters and JavaScript sequences. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and utilize proper input filtering that removes or encodes dangerous attributes like onmouseover and style. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and code reviews to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in web applications. According to ATT&CK framework category T1059, this vulnerability represents a technique for executing malicious code through web-based attack vectors, emphasizing the need for robust web application security controls including regular patch management and security training for developers.