CVE-2008-1386 in Serendipity
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the installer in Serendipity (S9Y) 1.3 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) unspecified path fields or (2) the database host field. NOTE: the timing window for exploitation of this issue might be limited.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/09/2019
The CVE-2008-1386 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness discovered in the Serendipity (S9Y) content management system version 1.3 installer component. This vulnerability exposes the system to remote code execution risks through malicious web script injection, potentially compromising user sessions and system integrity. The flaw specifically targets the installation process where user input is not properly sanitized, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate the system during its initial setup phase.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the installer's path fields and database host configuration parameters. When users provide input during the installation process, particularly in fields related to file paths or database connection details, the application fails to adequately filter or escape special characters that could be interpreted as executable script code. This weakness allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers who access the affected system. The vulnerability manifests in two distinct attack vectors where the first involves unspecified path fields and the second specifically targets the database host field, both of which represent critical entry points for malicious input.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations deploying Serendipity 1.3 systems. The timing window for exploitation is particularly concerning as it occurs during the installation phase when administrators are actively configuring the system, making successful attacks more likely to go undetected. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute arbitrary commands on the target system. The impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can potentially lead to complete system compromise, especially when combined with other vulnerabilities or when the system is deployed in environments with elevated privileges. The vulnerability also affects the principle of least privilege as it allows unauthenticated attackers to compromise the installation process itself.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the CWE-79 weakness classification which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a web application attack vector under the technique of code injection, where attackers exploit input validation flaws to execute malicious code. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of the Serendipity 1.3 installation to the latest available version, implementing proper input validation and output encoding for all user-provided data, and conducting thorough security reviews of installation processes. Organizations should also consider network segmentation to limit access to installation interfaces and implement web application firewalls to detect and prevent malicious input patterns. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices during the development phase, particularly in validation and sanitization routines, as these weaknesses can persist across multiple versions if not properly addressed in the codebase.