CVE-2008-2485 in PCPIN Chat
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the URL redirection script (inc/url_redirection.inc.php) in PCPIN Chat before 6.11 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/19/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2485 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the PCPIN Chat application, specifically within the URL redirection component located at inc/url_redirection.inc.php. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 6.11 and exposes the application to remote code execution through malicious web script injection. The flaw resides in the application's handling of URL redirection parameters, where input validation mechanisms fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs that contain embedded scripts, which then execute in the context of other users' browsers when they navigate to the affected redirection page. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can facilitate session hijacking, credential theft, and other malicious activities that compromise user security and application integrity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in software applications. This classification indicates that the application fails to properly validate or escape user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. The vulnerability operates through unknown vectors, suggesting that the attack surface may encompass multiple input points or that the exact mechanism of exploitation requires further analysis. The URL redirection script serves as a critical entry point where unvalidated input flows directly into the HTTP response without adequate sanitization or encoding measures. This processing path creates an environment where malicious payloads can be injected and subsequently executed by unsuspecting users who encounter the compromised redirection URLs.
The operational impact of this vulnerability poses significant risks to both end users and system administrators within environments utilizing PCPIN Chat versions prior to 6.11. Users may experience unauthorized access to their sessions, potential data exfiltration, and the compromise of their personal information through session hijacking techniques. The vulnerability enables attackers to craft malicious redirection links that can redirect users to phishing sites or deliver malware payloads directly to their browsers. Additionally, the presence of this flaw undermines the trust model of the application, as legitimate users may unknowingly interact with malicious content that appears to originate from a trusted source. System administrators face increased risk of unauthorized access to chat sessions and potential escalation of privileges, particularly if the application integrates with other systems where session tokens might be compromised.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2485 should prioritize immediate patching of the PCPIN Chat application to version 6.11 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the URL redirection vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout their web applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate potential injection points within web applications. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect unusual redirection patterns or suspicious URL parameters that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing proper security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious redirection attempts. Organizations should consider adopting the ATT&CK framework's approach to understanding how XSS vulnerabilities like this one can be leveraged for initial access and privilege escalation within compromised environments.