CVE-2008-1510 in OpenCMS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in system/workplace/admin/accounts/users_list.jsp in Alkacon OpenCMS 7.0.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) searchfilter or (2) listSearchFilter parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2024
The CVE-2008-1510 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Alkacon OpenCMS 7.0.3 that exposes the content management system to remote code execution through malicious web script injection. This vulnerability specifically targets the users_list.jsp administrative interface component, which processes user account management operations within the OpenCMS platform. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input parameters, creating an exploitable vector for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content into the web application's response. The vulnerability affects two distinct parameter inputs: searchfilter and listSearchFilter, both of which are processed by the administrative user listing functionality that displays user accounts and related information. The presence of this XSS vulnerability in the administrative interface poses significant risks since it could potentially allow unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges or access sensitive administrative functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the OpenCMS application's user management servlets. When the application receives the searchfilter or listSearchFilter parameters through HTTP requests, it directly incorporates these values into the HTML response without proper sanitization or encoding. This lack of input sanitization creates a persistent XSS condition where malicious payloads can be stored and executed whenever the affected page is rendered. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly escape or encode user-controllable data before including it in web output. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that exploit the unfiltered input parameters, potentially executing scripts in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected administrative pages.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-1510 extends beyond simple script injection, as it represents a significant threat to the integrity and confidentiality of the OpenCMS administrative environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or execute arbitrary commands on behalf of authenticated administrators. The vulnerability's location within the administrative accounts management interface means that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to modify user permissions, access restricted content, or manipulate the underlying database. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007: Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript and T1566.001: Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as it enables both client-side code execution and social engineering attacks that could leverage the administrative access. The vulnerability also aligns with T1190: Exploit Public-Facing Application, since it affects a publicly accessible web interface component that requires minimal privileges to exploit.
Organizations utilizing Alkacon OpenCMS 7.0.3 should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including input validation and output encoding mechanisms that sanitize all user-supplied data before rendering in web pages. The recommended approach involves implementing proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content generated from user inputs, particularly within administrative interfaces where sensitive operations occur. Security patches should be applied to upgrade to OpenCMS versions that address this specific vulnerability, as the original 7.0.3 release contains multiple security flaws that require immediate remediation. Additionally, network segmentation and web application firewalls should be configured to monitor and filter suspicious input patterns that could indicate attempted exploitation of this XSS vulnerability. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while regular security audits of web application components should be conducted to identify and remediate similar input validation weaknesses. Organizations should also implement security awareness training for administrators to recognize potential phishing attempts that could leverage this vulnerability for initial access to the administrative interface.