CVE-2008-2187 in mjguest
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in mjguest.php in Mjguest 6.7 GT Rev.01 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the level parameter in a redirect action, possibly involving interface/redirect.htm.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-2187 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Mjguest 6.7 GT Rev.01 web application. This issue specifically affects the mjguest.php script which processes guestbook functionality and handles redirect operations through interface/redirect.htm.php. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly handle malicious user-supplied data. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating the level parameter during redirect actions, thereby injecting arbitrary web scripts or HTML code into the application's response. The flaw exists at the application layer where user-provided parameters are directly incorporated into dynamic web content without proper encoding or validation measures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to sanitize input received through the level parameter in the redirect action. When a user submits data through the guestbook interface and the application processes this through the redirect mechanism, the level parameter value is not properly escaped or filtered before being rendered in the web page context. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected page. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 which involves the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities for code execution. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages legitimate redirect functionality to deliver malicious payloads, making detection more challenging.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. An attacker who successfully exploits this XSS vulnerability can establish persistent access to users' sessions, steal sensitive information, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims, or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects all users who interact with the guestbook functionality, particularly those who have administrative privileges or whose sessions are not properly protected against session hijacking. The long-term consequences include potential compromise of user accounts, data integrity violations, and reputational damage to organizations relying on the vulnerable application. Users may unknowingly execute malicious code when viewing guestbook entries or redirect pages, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term prevention measures. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application, specifically sanitizing all user-supplied data before incorporating it into web page content. Developers should employ context-specific encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding for output contexts, and implement proper parameter validation to reject malicious input patterns. The application should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Additionally, regular security code reviews and automated vulnerability scanning should be integrated into the development lifecycle to identify similar issues. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and block exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and should be addressed through comprehensive security training for development teams to prevent similar issues in future releases.