CVE-2008-1548 in Student Information System
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Aeries Browser Interface (ABI) 3.8.3.14 in Eagle Software Aries Student Information System allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) UserName parameter to loginproc.asp and the (2) usr parameter to Login.asp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2017
The CVE-2008-1548 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in the Aeries Browser Interface version 3.8.3.14, which is part of Eagle Software's Student Information System suite. This vulnerability affects the authentication and login processes of the system, creating a significant security risk for educational institutions that rely on this software for managing student data and administrative functions. The flaw exists in two primary locations within the web application's authentication flow, specifically in the loginproc.asp and Login.asp files, making it particularly dangerous as it targets the very core of system access control mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the web application's parameter handling mechanisms. Attackers can exploit the UserName parameter in loginproc.asp and the usr parameter in Login.asp to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content directly into the application's response. This occurs because the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamic web page content. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79, which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws where untrusted data is embedded into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it targets the login process itself, potentially allowing attackers to hijack user sessions, steal credentials, or redirect users to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive student information within the Aeries system. Educational institutions using this software face potential exposure of personal student data, academic records, and administrative information that could be exploited for identity theft, financial fraud, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that remains active as long as the affected version remains in use, potentially allowing attackers to establish long-term access to institutional databases. This risk is compounded by the fact that many educational environments lack robust security monitoring and incident response capabilities, making such vulnerabilities particularly dangerous. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a Web Application Attack technique, specifically under the 'Command and Control' and 'Credential Access' domains, where attackers can leverage the XSS flaw to establish persistent access to the system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1548 require immediate action to address the root cause through proper input validation and output encoding implementations. Organizations should implement strict parameter validation on all user inputs, particularly those used in authentication processes, and ensure that all dynamic content is properly escaped before being rendered in web browsers. The recommended approach involves implementing comprehensive input sanitization routines that filter out or encode potentially dangerous characters and script tags from user-supplied data. Additionally, organizations should deploy web application firewalls and security monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The most effective long-term solution requires upgrading to a patched version of the Aeries software that addresses these specific XSS vulnerabilities. Security teams should also implement regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications within their environment, as the same patterns of inadequate input validation commonly appear across different software systems.