CVE-2008-2335 in phpVID
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in search_results.php in Vastal I-Tech phpVID 1.1 and 1.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the query parameter. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information. NOTE: it was later reported that 1.2.3 is also affected.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2335 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the phpVID content management system developed by Vastal I-Tech. This vulnerability specifically affects versions 1.1, 1.2, and later confirmed versions 1.2.3 of the software, creating a significant security risk for web applications that utilize this platform. The flaw exists in the search_results.php component which processes user input through the query parameter, making it susceptible to malicious injection attacks that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the search_results.php script. When users submit search queries through the web interface, the application fails to properly sanitize the query parameter before incorporating it into the HTML response. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability follows the classic XSS pattern where untrusted data flows from the web application's input handling to its output rendering without proper security controls. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-79: Cross-site Scripting vulnerability, specifically categorized as a reflected XSS attack where the malicious payload is reflected off the web server and delivered to the victim's browser.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling sophisticated attack vectors that can compromise user accounts and steal sensitive information. An attacker could craft malicious search queries containing JavaScript payloads that would execute when other users view the search results page, leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected web application, particularly targeting the user authentication mechanisms and data protection features. The reflected nature of the attack means that successful exploitation requires social engineering to trick users into clicking malicious links, but once executed, the consequences can be severe for both individual users and the organization maintaining the vulnerable system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the search_results.php script to sanitize all user-supplied data before rendering it in HTML contexts. This includes applying HTML entity encoding to prevent script execution and implementing strict input validation to reject potentially malicious content. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to provide additional protection against XSS attacks, along with regular security audits and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include updating to the latest available version of phpVID where the vulnerability has been patched, as well as implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious XSS payloads. According to ATT&CK framework methodology, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001: Phishing, as attackers may exploit this weakness to deliver malicious payloads through crafted search queries, and T1213.002: Data from Information Repositories, as the vulnerability could enable unauthorized access to stored user data through session manipulation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input sanitization in web applications and serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for security awareness in software development practices.