CVE-2008-1165 in Flyspray
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Flyspray 0.9.9 through 0.9.9.4 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) a forced SQL error message or (2) old_value and new_value database fields in task summaries, related to the item_summary parameter in a details action in index.php. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2008-1165 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Flyspray versions 0.9.9 through 0.9.9.4, demonstrating how inadequate input validation can create persistent security weaknesses in issue tracking systems. This vulnerability operates through two distinct attack vectors that exploit the application's handling of database field values and error messages. The first vector involves forced SQL error messages that are displayed to users without proper sanitization, while the second vector targets the old_value and new_value fields within task summaries that are processed through the item_summary parameter in the details action of index.php. These attack paths directly violate the fundamental security principle of input sanitization and output encoding, creating opportunities for malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of affected users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or validate user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. When SQL errors are forced through malicious input, the error messages contain unescaped user data that gets rendered directly into the HTML output without proper context-aware encoding. Similarly, the database fields containing old_value and new_value parameters are not adequately sanitized when processed through the item_summary parameter, allowing attackers to inject HTML tags and JavaScript code that executes when other users view task details. This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly encode output to prevent XSS attacks. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage web application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code in victim browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, manipulate data within the issue tracking system, and potentially escalate privileges within the application environment. Users viewing affected task summaries become unwitting participants in the attack, as their browsers execute the injected scripts without their knowledge. The vulnerability's persistence is particularly concerning since it affects core functionality of the Flyspray system, meaning that any user viewing task details could be compromised. Attackers can craft malicious inputs that appear legitimate within the application context, making detection more difficult and increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation. The vulnerability affects not just individual users but potentially entire organizations that rely on Flyspray for project management and issue tracking, as compromised systems can lead to data breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive project information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1165 require immediate implementation of comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures across all user-supplied data paths. Organizations should implement strict sanitization of all database field values, particularly those related to task summaries and error messages, ensuring that any data destined for HTML output undergoes proper context-aware encoding. The application should employ a whitelist-based approach for validating all input parameters and implement Content Security Policy headers to provide additional protection against script execution. Regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components, and the system should be updated to a patched version of Flyspray that addresses these XSS vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing proper error handling that does not expose internal database information to end users can prevent the first attack vector from being exploited, while maintaining robust input validation for all parameters processed through the item_summary functionality.