CVE-2008-1983 in Advanced Electron Forum
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Advanced Electron Forum (AEF) 1.0.6 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the beg parameter in a members action to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1983 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Advanced Electron Forum version 1.0.6 web application. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of user input parameters, specifically the 'beg' parameter within the members action of the index.php script. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, creating a significant vector for various malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, and unauthorized actions. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical failure in input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that are fundamental to web application security.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the 'beg' parameter in the URL structure targeting the members action. When users navigate to the affected page with maliciously crafted input in the beg parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the user-supplied data before rendering it in the web page context. This lack of proper input validation creates an environment where attackers can inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser when they view the affected page. The vulnerability specifically affects the index.php script when processing member-related actions, indicating a targeted weakness in the forum's member listing or browsing functionality.
The operational impact of this XSS vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session manipulation, steal user credentials, redirect users to malicious sites, or even execute arbitrary commands within the context of the vulnerable application. The consequences for forum administrators and users are significant, as compromised sessions could lead to unauthorized access to user accounts, posting of malicious content, and potential data breaches. This vulnerability undermines the trust and security of the entire forum platform, as it allows attackers to exploit the application's user base through a single point of entry. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of user data, making it a critical security concern for any organization relying on the affected forum software.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Advanced Electron Forum application. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters, particularly those used in dynamic content generation, and implementing strict output encoding to prevent script execution in web contexts. Organizations should also consider applying the vendor-provided security patches or upgrading to newer versions of the forum software that address this specific vulnerability. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and regular security auditing practices can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a common attack pattern categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection, emphasizing the importance of robust input validation and output encoding in web application security frameworks.