CVE-2008-1987 in EncapsGallery
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in search.php in EncapsGallery 2.0.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the search parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1987 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within EncapsGallery version 2.0.2, specifically affecting the search.php script. This vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that allows malicious actors to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The flaw exists in the handling of user-supplied input through the search parameter, creating an exploitable entry point for remote attackers who can manipulate the application's search functionality to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the search.php script. When users submit search queries, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. This omission creates a condition where attacker-controlled data can be interpreted as executable code rather than mere text, allowing malicious scripts to run in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the presentation layer of the application, where user input is directly rendered without proper security controls to prevent script injection. This type of flaw enables attackers to perform session hijacking, deface web pages, steal cookies, or redirect users to malicious sites, all while appearing to originate from a legitimate source within the gallery application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with persistent access vectors that can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. Once an attacker successfully injects malicious code through the search parameter, they can establish a foothold for further exploitation including privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or use the compromised application as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access or prior authentication to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell and T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as it enables attackers to deliver malicious payloads through web-based attack vectors that can compromise user sessions and system integrity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1987 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary fix involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the search.php script, ensuring that all user-supplied data is sanitized before being processed or displayed. This includes applying HTML entity encoding to all dynamic content and implementing strict input validation that rejects or removes potentially dangerous characters and script tags. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the sources from which scripts can be executed, providing an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of input sanitization and output encoding practices, which aligns with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, while also ensuring that all third-party applications and libraries are kept current with security patches to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.