CVE-2008-2280 in PicEngine
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in admin/index.php in Script PHP PicEngine 1.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the l parameter. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2018
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists in Script PHP PicEngine version 1.0 within the administrative interface, specifically in the admin/index.php file. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input passed through the l parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's response. The vulnerability represents a classic persistent XSS attack vector that could potentially allow attackers to execute malicious code in the context of a victim's browser session. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically addressing the failure to sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the capability to hijack user sessions, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even establish backdoor access through the compromised administrative interface. When an administrator or authenticated user visits the vulnerable page with malicious content in the l parameter, their browser executes the injected script, potentially leading to complete compromise of the affected system. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1531 for credential access through session hijacking. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability resides in the administrative component of the application, which typically possesses elevated privileges and access to sensitive system functions.
The technical exploitation requires minimal sophistication, as attackers only need to craft a malicious URL containing the XSS payload in the l parameter and deliver it to an unsuspecting administrator. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and output encoding practices that are fundamental to preventing XSS attacks. Organizations using Script PHP PicEngine 1.0 should immediately implement proper input sanitization measures, including the validation and encoding of all user-supplied parameters before they are processed or displayed in web responses. The recommended mitigations include implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all dynamic content, utilizing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict script execution, and conducting comprehensive input validation to prevent malicious payloads from being processed. Additionally, the application should be updated to a patched version or replaced with a more secure alternative, as the vendor may no longer support this legacy version. This vulnerability underscores the critical importance of secure coding practices and regular security assessments to identify and remediate such flaws before they can be exploited in real-world scenarios. The lack of verified information about the vulnerability's origin highlights the need for organizations to maintain robust security monitoring and threat intelligence capabilities to identify potential attack vectors and remediate them proactively.