CVE-2008-1941 in WebBoard
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the profile update feature in Akiva WebBoard 8.0 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors in the form field. 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 • 09/23/2018
The CVE-2008-1941 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Akiva WebBoard 8.0's profile update functionality. This vulnerability specifically targets the form field processing mechanism where authenticated users can manipulate input data to inject malicious scripts. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the web application's user profile management system. The vulnerability exists in the server-side processing logic that fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it back to the browser. Attackers exploiting this flaw can leverage their authenticated access to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that executes in the context of other users' browsers. This creates a persistent threat where compromised user sessions could be hijacked or sensitive data could be exfiltrated through the injected scripts. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting weaknesses in web applications. This weakness falls under the broader category of injection flaws that represent one of the most prevalent security vulnerabilities in web applications according to the OWASP Top Ten. The attack vector operates through the authenticated user session, meaning that an attacker must first obtain valid credentials to exploit this vulnerability, though the impact remains significant once achieved. The vulnerability's exploitation requires careful crafting of malicious input that bypasses the application's input sanitization measures. The profile update feature serves as the primary attack surface since it processes user input and subsequently displays it back to users in the web interface. This creates a perfect storm for XSS exploitation where legitimate user input becomes a conduit for malicious code delivery. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can enable session hijacking, data theft, and potentially full system compromise if combined with other attack vectors. The lack of detailed information regarding the specific exploitation method makes this vulnerability particularly concerning as it suggests potential for multiple attack vectors or undisclosed implementation flaws. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1531 - Account Access Token Manipulation and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can use the injected scripts to manipulate user sessions or execute commands. The vulnerability's presence in a profile update feature indicates poor input validation practices throughout the application's data handling processes, suggesting that similar issues may exist in other user input fields. Security practitioners should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures to prevent such vulnerabilities. The remediation approach should focus on implementing proper HTML escaping, input sanitization, and validation mechanisms to prevent malicious code from being executed. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in their web applications. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in web application development. The use of established security frameworks and libraries that provide built-in protection against XSS attacks should be considered as part of the remediation strategy. Furthermore, regular security training for developers can help prevent such vulnerabilities from being introduced during the software development lifecycle. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate script execution to potential long-term security compromise of user accounts and the application itself. Proper logging and monitoring of user profile updates can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's authenticated nature suggests that access control measures should be reviewed and strengthened to prevent unauthorized access to user profile modification features.