CVE-2008-1536 in Photo Cart
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in Pictures Pro (aka Tim Grissett) Photo Cart 4.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the amessage parameter. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2017
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists in the Pictures Pro Photo Cart 4.1 web application, specifically within the index.php file where the amessage parameter is processed without adequate input validation or output sanitization. The flaw represents a classic reflected XSS attack vector that enables remote attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or filter user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamic web content, creating an opportunity for attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of victims' browsers. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a fundamental web application security weakness that has been consistently documented in security assessments for over a decade. The attack scenario involves an attacker crafting a malicious URL containing script code within the amessage parameter and delivering it to victims through social engineering tactics, phishing emails, or compromised websites. When a victim clicks the malicious link, their browser executes the injected script in the context of the vulnerable application, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of the web application's user interface and can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. Attackers can exploit this weakness to steal session cookies, modify page content, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload is reflected back to the user through the web server's response, making it particularly dangerous as it can be delivered through various attack vectors including email links, instant messaging, or compromised web pages. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering tactics used to deliver malware or exploit code, and specifically relates to T1203 which covers exploitation of web application vulnerabilities. The attack requires minimal technical skill to execute and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate security gap and establish long-term defensive measures. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters, specifically ensuring that the amessage parameter is sanitized before being incorporated into web page content. This can be achieved through the use of HTML entity encoding, input validation routines, and Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution capabilities. Organizations should also implement proper parameter sanitization techniques such as removing or escaping special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or script tags. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding practices, which are fundamental requirements in secure web application development and align with OWASP Top 10 security principles. Additionally, regular security testing including dynamic application security testing (DAST) and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The remediation process requires updating the application code to properly handle the amessage parameter through sanitization routines and implementing comprehensive logging to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the necessity of following secure coding practices and demonstrates how seemingly simple input handling flaws can lead to significant security breaches. Organizations must also consider implementing web application firewalls (WAF) as an additional defensive layer to detect and block malicious payloads targeting similar vulnerabilities.