CVE-2008-1283 in Neptune Web Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Neptune Web Server 3.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the URI, which is not properly handled in the 404 error page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1283 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Neptune Web Server version 3.0, specifically manifesting in how the application handles malformed URI requests that trigger 404 error responses. This weakness creates a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a victim's browser when navigating to specially crafted URLs that exploit the server's inadequate input sanitization mechanisms.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the server's failure to properly escape or filter user-supplied URI data before incorporating it into the dynamic 404 error page generation process. When a client requests a non-existent resource, the web server constructs an error page that includes the original URI as part of the response content without appropriate HTML encoding or sanitization. This oversight creates an XSS vector where attackers can embed malicious JavaScript code within the URI itself, which then gets executed when the error page is rendered in a victim's browser. The vulnerability specifically affects the server's error handling mechanism rather than its core functionality, making it particularly insidious as it operates through legitimate error conditions that users encounter during normal browsing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even execute more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft or browser-based malware delivery. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers can leverage this vulnerability without requiring local system access or physical presence, making it particularly dangerous in environments where web servers are exposed to untrusted networks. The attack can be amplified through social engineering techniques, where users are directed to malicious URLs through phishing campaigns or compromised links, and the vulnerability remains exploitable as long as the vulnerable Neptune Web Server version 3.0 continues to operate.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to a patched version of the Neptune Web Server, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms for all user-supplied data, and deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious URI patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should be addressed through comprehensive security testing and input validation protocols. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving client-side code execution and credential access, potentially enabling further exploitation through session manipulation and information disclosure. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their web infrastructure to identify similar input handling vulnerabilities in other components and establish robust monitoring procedures to detect exploitation attempts.