CVE-2008-1795 in Academic Suite
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Blackboard Academic Suite 7.x and earlier, and possibly some 8.0 versions, allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the searchText parameter in a Course action to webapps/blackboard/execute/viewCatalog or (2) the data__announcements___pk1_pk2__subject parameter in an ADD action to bin/common/announcement.pl.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2024
The CVE-2008-1795 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Blackboard Academic Suite versions 7.x and earlier, with potential impact extending to some 8.0 versions. This vulnerability resides within the web application's input validation mechanisms, specifically targeting parameters used in course catalog viewing and announcement creation functionalities. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code into the application's response, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity within educational institutional environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input parameters within the Blackboard application's server-side processing logic. Attackers can exploit the searchText parameter in the Course action to webapps/blackboard/execute/viewCatalog endpoint, or alternatively target the data__announcements___pk1_pk2__subject parameter during ADD actions to bin/common/announcement.pl. Both attack vectors demonstrate the same fundamental flaw in input validation where user-provided content flows directly into HTML output without proper encoding or filtering mechanisms. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where applications fail to properly validate or encode user-controllable data before including it in dynamically generated content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user credentials, and potentially escalate privileges within the academic suite environment. Educational institutions utilizing affected Blackboard versions face significant risks including unauthorized access to student records, course materials, and administrative functions. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means attackers do not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for distributed learning environments where users may access the platform from various locations and devices.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including input validation patches, output encoding mechanisms, and web application firewalls to protect against exploitation attempts. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user inputs through proper encoding before rendering in HTML contexts, implementing Content Security Policy headers, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications. Additionally, administrators should consider applying the vendor-provided security patches as soon as they become available, while also monitoring network traffic for suspicious activity patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability exemplifies the importance of maintaining up-to-date security measures in educational technology platforms, as highlighted by ATT&CK technique T1566 for initial access through web application attacks and T1071 for application layer protocol usage in malicious activities.