CVE-2008-2178 in LifeType
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in admin.php in LifeType 1.2.7 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the searchTerms parameter in an editArticleCategories operation (aka an admin category search).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2178 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the LifeType content management system version 1.2.7. This vulnerability specifically targets the administrative interface component known as admin.php, which handles various backend operations including category management and article editing functions. The flaw manifests when the system processes user input through the searchTerms parameter during an editArticleCategories operation, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's response.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the LifeType administrative interface. When administrators perform category searches through the editArticleCategories functionality, the application fails to properly sanitize the searchTerms parameter before incorporating it into the HTML response. This omission creates a classic XSS attack vector where malicious users can craft specially formatted input strings containing script tags or other malicious HTML elements that execute in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected pages. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the administrative context, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or compromise the entire CMS infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-2178 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate the administrative interface and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive system functions. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal administrator session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject persistent malicious code that would execute whenever administrators access the category search functionality. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which defines Cross-site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or escaping. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability exists within the administrative backend, where attackers could potentially modify content, create new user accounts, or even delete database entries.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically mapping it to techniques involving web application attacks and privilege escalation. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with attack patterns that target administrative interfaces, which are often primary targets for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to web applications. Organizations running LifeType 1.2.7 should implement immediate mitigations including input validation at the application level, output encoding for all dynamic content, and proper sanitization of user-supplied parameters before processing. Additionally, network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls and regular security monitoring should be deployed to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust input validation mechanisms as fundamental defensive measures against XSS attacks. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application stack, as this flaw represents a common weakness that affects numerous CMS platforms and web applications.