CVE-2008-2518 in Java System Web Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the advanced search mechanism (webapps/search/advanced.jsp) in Sun Java System Web Server 6.1 before SP9 and 7.0 before Update 3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, probably related to the next parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2518 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Sun Java System Web Server's advanced search functionality. This weakness exists in the webapps/search/advanced.jsp component and affects versions 6.1 prior to Service Pack 9 and 7.0 prior to Update 3. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims. The attack vector likely involves manipulation of the next parameter, which is commonly used for navigation and redirection purposes within web applications.
This XSS vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with reflected XSS attacks where malicious input is immediately reflected back to the user without proper sanitization or encoding. The affected web server component processes user input from the advanced search mechanism without adequate validation, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks including credential theft through session cookie manipulation and phishing attempts that appear legitimate to users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on Sun Java System Web Server for their web applications. Attackers can exploit this weakness to steal user sessions, redirect victims to malicious sites, or inject malware directly into the browser environment. The vulnerability's presence in the search functionality makes it particularly dangerous as search parameters are often heavily used and may not be subject to the same level of input validation as other application components. Organizations with web applications that utilize this server software face potential data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and compromise of user authentication mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected server versions to SP9 for 6.1 and Update 3 for 7.0 releases. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent XSS attacks, particularly for parameters like next that handle navigation data. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper HTML encoding of user-supplied input can provide additional defense layers. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their web applications to identify similar XSS vulnerabilities in other components and establish robust input sanitization processes. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security updates and the need for organizations to maintain current knowledge of security advisories affecting their web infrastructure components. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1531 which covers "Credential Access" techniques, emphasizing the potential for session hijacking and authentication bypass through XSS exploitation.