CVE-2008-1917 in AMFPHP
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in AMFPHP 1.2 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) class parameter to (a) methodTable.php, (b) code.php, and (c) details.php in browser/; and the (2) location parameter to browser/code.php. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2025
The CVE-2008-1917 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability affecting AMFPHP 1.2, a popular open-source framework for handling Adobe Flash Remoting Protocol communications. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the framework's browser interface components, specifically targeting three distinct PHP files that handle method table data, code execution details, and code display functionality. The flaw exists in the web application's handling of user-supplied parameters that are directly reflected in HTML output without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through two primary attack vectors that exploit the framework's failure to properly validate and sanitize user input. The first vector targets the class parameter within methodTable.php, code.php, and details.php files located in the browser directory, while the second vector exploits the location parameter in browser/code.php. These parameters are processed without adequate input filtering, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that gets executed in the context of authenticated users' browsers. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, where applications fail to properly validate or encode user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts in the context of victims' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of authenticated users. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform persistent XSS attacks that may remain undetected for extended periods, particularly in environments where users frequently interact with the AMFPHP browser interface. The attack requires no special privileges or authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with access to the vulnerable application. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.001 category for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting web-based scripting execution.
The exploitation of CVE-2008-1917 typically involves crafting malicious payloads that contain JavaScript code within the vulnerable parameters, which are then executed when legitimate users view the affected pages. These payloads can be designed to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform other malicious activities that compromise user security and application integrity. The vulnerability's persistence in the browser interface components means that the attack surface extends to any user who accesses the affected AMFPHP browser functionality, potentially affecting multiple users within a single organization. Organizations utilizing AMFPHP 1.2 should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and proper parameter sanitization to prevent exploitation of these vulnerabilities. The lack of detailed information regarding the vulnerability's provenance underscores the importance of proactive security measures and vulnerability assessment practices to identify and remediate similar issues in legacy systems.