CVE-2008-1985 in DigitalHive
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in base.php in DigitalHive 2.0 RC2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the mt parameter, possibly related to membres.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-1985 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the DigitalHive 2.0 RC2 content management system. This security weakness resides in the base.php file and specifically affects the handling of the mt parameter, which is likely used for member-related functionality as suggested by the reference to membres.php. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code into the application's response, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as a code injection vulnerability where untrusted data is embedded into web pages viewed by other users. The mt parameter serves as the attack vector, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the application's behavior by injecting crafted payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when input validation and output encoding mechanisms are insufficient or absent, creating opportunities for attackers to exploit the trust relationship between the web application and its users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can facilitate session hijacking, credential theft, and the redirection of users to malicious websites. Attackers could leverage this weakness to steal cookies, modify page content, or even execute unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability's presence in a core file like base.php suggests it could affect multiple application functionalities, making the potential attack surface significantly larger than a localized issue. Users who access pages utilizing the mt parameter would be at risk, potentially compromising the entire user base if the application lacks proper input sanitization.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding practices throughout the application. The most effective immediate fix involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly the mt parameter, by removing or escaping special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or script tags. The application should employ proper context-aware output encoding when displaying user data, ensuring that any potentially malicious content is rendered harmless. Additionally, implementing a Content Security Policy header can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities, while developers should follow secure coding practices that prevent such issues from arising in future versions. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for exploitation of web application vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures in web application development.