CVE-2008-1063 in XM-Memberstats
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability index.php in the XM-Memberstats (xmmemberstats) module for XOOPS allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the sortby parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2018
The CVE-2008-1063 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the XM-Memberstats module for the XOOPS content management system. This vulnerability specifically affects the index.php script and manifests through improper input validation of the sortby parameter, creating a significant security risk for web applications utilizing this module. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as the injection of malicious client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within the sortby parameter and persuades a victim to click on the crafted link. The vulnerable application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before rendering it in the web page context, allowing the injected script to execute within the victim's browser session. This type of vulnerability enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web content, and redirection to malicious sites. The XSS vulnerability exists at the application layer and can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566 for phishing with malicious content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to compromise the entire user session and potentially escalate privileges within the CMS environment. When users with administrative privileges click on malicious links, attackers can gain elevated access to the system, potentially leading to complete compromise of the XOOPS installation. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of user data, as well as the availability of the web service through potential defacement or denial of service attacks. The attack vector requires user interaction but can be effectively automated through social engineering campaigns, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently interact with web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1063 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through strict validation and escaping before rendering any content in web pages. Developers should implement proper HTML escaping techniques for all dynamic content and utilize parameterized queries where applicable. Security measures should include input validation that rejects or removes potentially malicious characters and patterns, particularly those associated with script tags, event handlers, and other XSS attack vectors. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against XSS attacks, while regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application codebase. Organizations using XOOPS should also ensure that all modules and plugins are regularly updated to address known vulnerabilities and maintain current security patches to prevent exploitation of such flaws.