CVE-2008-1757 in KwsPHP
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in the ConcoursPhoto module for KwsPHP 1.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the VIEW parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2025
The CVE-2008-1757 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the ConcoursPhoto module of KwsPHP version 1.0, demonstrating a fundamental weakness in input validation and output sanitization mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically targets the index.php script where user-supplied data from the VIEW parameter is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The flaw creates an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content directly into the application's response, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the module's failure to validate or escape user input parameters before incorporating them into dynamic web content. When the VIEW parameter is processed, the application directly incorporates its value into the HTML output without adequate sanitization measures. This creates a scenario where an attacker can craft malicious payloads that execute within the context of other users' browsers, leveraging the trust relationship between the web application and its users. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and represents a Type 1 XSS flaw according to the CWE taxonomy, specifically mapping to CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and defacement of the affected web application. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the target system. Users who interact with the compromised application may unknowingly execute malicious scripts that can capture their login credentials, redirect them to phishing sites, or modify application behavior. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the web application by potentially allowing unauthorized access to user data and system resources.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability. The primary mitigation involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding techniques, ensuring that all user-supplied data is sanitized before being incorporated into web responses. This includes implementing strict parameter validation for the VIEW parameter and applying HTML entity encoding to prevent script execution. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution sources and deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for social engineering and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, making it a critical target for defensive measures. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses in other application components, as this type of vulnerability frequently occurs in web applications that fail to properly handle user input. The remediation process should involve thorough testing of all input parameters and implementation of a comprehensive security coding standard that addresses XSS prevention mechanisms throughout the application lifecycle.