CVE-2008-1892 in Blogator Script
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in bs_auth.php in Blogator-script 0.95 and 1.01 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the msg parameter. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1892 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Blogator-script content management system version 0.95 and 1.01. This security weakness resides in the bs_auth.php component which processes authentication-related functionality. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input submitted through the msg parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The absence of input validation and output encoding mechanisms allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that can persist and execute whenever legitimate users access the affected application.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw where untrusted data is embedded into web pages viewed by other users. The flaw operates at the application layer where user-supplied data flows directly into the web response without adequate sanitization or encoding. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input containing script tags or other HTML elements that get executed in the victim's browser context. The msg parameter serves as the primary attack vector, suggesting that authentication messages or error notifications are displayed without proper HTML escaping or context-appropriate encoding. This vulnerability type enables attackers to perform session hijacking, defacement of web pages, data theft, and other malicious activities that leverage the trust relationship between the user and the vulnerable application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues. When exploited, the XSS flaw can facilitate more severe security incidents including credential theft through session cookie harvesting, redirection to malicious sites, and persistent malware delivery. Users who access the vulnerable application and encounter the maliciously injected content may unknowingly execute code that compromises their browser security. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the web application by allowing unauthorized code execution in legitimate user contexts. This creates a significant risk for any users who might be authenticated or whose interactions with the application could be monitored or manipulated by attackers. The persistent nature of stored XSS attacks means that once the malicious payload is injected, it continues to affect users until the application is patched and the malicious content is removed from the database or storage.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1892 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly parameters like msg that are processed within authentication contexts. Implementing proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content ensures that special characters are rendered harmless when displayed in web pages. The application should employ context-appropriate output encoding based on where data appears within the HTML document structure. Additionally, developers should adopt secure coding practices that include input validation at multiple layers, proper error handling, and regular security testing. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of applying the principle of least privilege and ensuring that authentication components properly handle untrusted data. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns and maintain up-to-date security patches for all web applications. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) and T1566 (Phishing), highlighting the potential for attackers to leverage the XSS flaw for further exploitation and social engineering attacks.