CVE-2008-1487 in LinPHA
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in LinPHA before 1.3.3 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) ftp/index.php, (2) viewer.php, (3) functions/other.php, (4) include/left_menu.class.php, and (5) plugins/stats/stats_view.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/20/2018
The CVE-2008-1487 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting LinPHA versions prior to 1.3.3, exposing multiple entry points within the application's codebase to malicious web script injection attacks. This vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 as improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically targeting the application's handling of user-supplied data that flows directly into HTML output without adequate sanitization or encoding mechanisms.
The vulnerability manifests across five distinct files within the LinPHA application structure, each serving different functional purposes within the web application's architecture. The ftp/index.php file represents the first attack vector, likely handling file transfer protocol operations that may accept user input for directory navigation or file operations. The viewer.php component suggests a content viewing functionality that could process user-provided parameters for displaying media or document content. The functions/other.php file indicates a general utility module that may handle various operations, while include/left_menu.class.php points to a navigation component that could render user-controllable menu items. The plugins/stats/stats_view.php component reveals a statistical reporting feature that might process user input for generating analytics or metrics displays.
This vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims. The attack occurs when user-supplied input is not properly validated or encoded before being rendered in web pages, allowing attackers to inject malicious HTML or JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser context. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as these XSS vulnerabilities can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks including phishing, defacement, or establishing persistent backdoors within the application environment.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are significant for any organization utilizing LinPHA versions before 1.3.3, as it creates a persistent security risk that can be exploited by attackers without requiring elevated privileges or specialized knowledge of the underlying system. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when executed, can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform unauthorized actions within the application. The multi-vector nature of the vulnerability increases exploitability since attackers can target any of the five identified files, providing multiple paths to compromise the application. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1566 category for Phishing and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code through web-based interfaces.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all user-supplied data points within the affected application components. The recommended mitigation strategy includes upgrading to LinPHA version 1.3.3 or later, which would contain the necessary security patches addressing the identified XSS vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing proper content security policies, input sanitization routines, and regular security assessments can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the web application. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices and input validation as fundamental security controls that should be integrated throughout the entire application development lifecycle, aligning with security standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks for web application security.