CVE-2008-2179 in SysAid
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in SystemList.jsp in SysAid 5.1.08 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the searchField parameter. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2179 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the SysAid 5.1.08 system management software, specifically affecting the SystemList.jsp component. This vulnerability resides in the web application's handling of user input through the searchField parameter, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw demonstrates a classic XSS vulnerability pattern that has been documented in numerous security assessments and represents a significant threat to web application integrity and user data protection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the SystemList.jsp file. When users submit search queries through the searchField parameter, the application fails to properly sanitize or encode the input before rendering it back to the user interface. This lack of proper input sanitization creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious payloads that persist in the application's response, executing in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability specifically affects the search functionality, making it particularly dangerous as users naturally interact with search features, increasing the attack surface and potential impact of exploitation.
From an operational perspective, this XSS vulnerability poses substantial risks to organizations utilizing SysAid 5.1.08 for system management and monitoring. Attackers could exploit this weakness to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, inject phishing content, or execute unauthorized administrative actions depending on the victim's privileges. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers do not require physical access to the system or insider knowledge to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users interact with the system. The potential for privilege escalation exists if the application's search functionality is accessible to users with elevated permissions, as attackers could craft payloads to target administrative accounts.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1566 related to spearphishing with links. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and the implementation of Content Security Policy headers. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper encoding mechanisms such as HTML entity encoding, implementing strict input validation that rejects suspicious patterns, and deploying web application firewalls to monitor and block malicious payloads. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the system. The remediation process should include updating to a patched version of SysAid, as the vulnerability represents a known issue that would have been addressed in subsequent releases. Organizations should also consider implementing comprehensive monitoring for suspicious activities related to the search functionality and establish incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts.