CVE-2008-1630 in CuteFlow
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in CuteFlow 1.5.0 and 2.10.0 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the language parameter to (1) page/showcirculation.php; and (2) edittemplate_step2.php, (3) showfields.php, (4) showuser.php, (5) editmailinglist_step1.php, and (6) showtemplates.php in pages/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2018
The CVE-2008-1630 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting CuteFlow versions 1.5.0 and 2.10.0, which falls under the CWE-79 category of Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's web interface, specifically targeting the language parameter that is processed across multiple script files. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions within the application. The vulnerability affects a broad range of endpoints including page/showcirculation.php, edittemplate_step2.php, showfields.php, showuser.php, editmailinglist_step1.php, and showtemplates.php, all located within the pages/ directory structure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or HTML code and submits it through the language parameter to any of the affected endpoints. The application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages, creating an environment where injected scripts execute in the victim's browser context. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged to bypass security controls and perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The attack vector is remote and requires no special privileges, making it accessible to any attacker with knowledge of the affected application's URL structure. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices that violate fundamental web application security principles, as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for secure coding practices.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-1630 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to establish persistent access to the application environment and compromise user data. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, modify application content, or harvest sensitive information from authenticated sessions. The broad scope of affected files suggests a systemic input validation failure rather than isolated incidents, indicating that the application's core security architecture requires comprehensive review. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Phishing and T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code through web-based attack surfaces. Organizations running affected versions of CuteFlow face significant risk of data breaches and unauthorized access, particularly in environments where the application handles sensitive user information or business-critical workflows.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1630 should focus on immediate input validation and output encoding implementation across all user-supplied parameters. The most effective approach involves implementing strict input validation that filters or rejects potentially malicious characters and ensuring that all output is properly escaped or encoded before rendering in web pages. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and establish proper input sanitization routines that validate parameter values against expected formats. The recommended solution includes upgrading to a patched version of CuteFlow or implementing web application firewall rules that detect and block malicious input patterns targeting these specific endpoints. Security teams should conduct comprehensive code reviews to identify similar input validation issues across the application's codebase and implement automated testing procedures to prevent regression of such vulnerabilities. Additionally, user education and awareness programs should emphasize the importance of not clicking on suspicious links or submitting untrusted input to web applications, as this vulnerability can be exploited through social engineering techniques that combine with the technical exploitation methods described in the ATT&CK framework.