CVE-2008-1175 in AuthentiX
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in AuthentiX 6.3b1 Trial allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the username parameter to aspAdmin/deleteUser.asp, a different vector than CVE-2008-1174. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1175 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within AuthentiX 6.3b1 Trial software, specifically affecting the aspAdmin/deleteUser.asp component. This issue enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code through manipulation of the username parameter, demonstrating a classic persistent XSS vulnerability that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability operates through a distinct attack vector compared to CVE-2008-1174, suggesting multiple entry points within the same software ecosystem that require separate mitigation strategies. The authentication and user management functions of the software become compromised when attackers exploit this weakness, potentially allowing unauthorized access to administrative controls and user data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious username parameter containing embedded script code that gets processed by the vulnerable aspAdmin/deleteUser.asp page. This script execution happens within the context of the victim's browser session, allowing attackers to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or modifying application functionality. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's user management interface, where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into dynamic web content without proper sanitization. This flaw aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without adequate escaping or validation measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized administrative access to the AuthentiX system. When users with elevated privileges interact with the compromised application, attackers can leverage the XSS flaw to execute malicious code in their browser context, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects the software's authentication and authorization mechanisms, undermining the trust model that the application relies upon for user management operations. This type of vulnerability can result in data breaches, session hijacking, and unauthorized modification of user accounts, making it particularly dangerous for environments where sensitive authentication data is processed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1175 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding practices throughout the application's user management components. Organizations should deploy proper parameter sanitization techniques that escape special characters in user inputs before processing them within web pages. The recommended approach includes implementing Content Security Policy headers, using proper HTML encoding for dynamic content, and conducting thorough input validation on all user-supplied parameters. Additionally, the software vendor should be notified immediately to facilitate the development of a security patch that addresses the specific input handling flaw in the aspAdmin/deleteUser.asp component. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious parameter values and anomalous user behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and regular vulnerability assessments, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's application security category where such flaws are categorized under web application vulnerabilities and can be exploited through various attack vectors including credential theft and privilege escalation.