CVE-2008-2531 in BANS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the search script in Build A Niche Store (BANS) 3.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the q parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2531 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Build A Niche Store 3.0 web application. This vulnerability specifically affects the search functionality of the platform, where the q parameter serves as the primary entry point for attacker exploitation. The flaw resides in how the application processes user input through the search interface without adequate sanitization or output encoding mechanisms. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize input, which directly enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's response. This weakness allows attackers to bypass standard security controls and execute malicious code within the context of other users' browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, creating potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks within the web application environment. When remote attackers exploit this vulnerability through the q parameter, they can manipulate the search functionality to inject malicious payloads that persist in the application's response. This allows for session hijacking, credential theft, and the potential redirection of users to malicious sites. The vulnerability operates within the framework of the ATT&CK technique T1566, specifically targeting the initial access phase through malicious web content. Attackers can leverage this weakness to establish persistent access to user sessions, potentially compromising sensitive data and user credentials. The flaw fundamentally undermines the application's ability to maintain secure user interactions and can lead to widespread compromise across all users who engage with the vulnerable search functionality.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2531 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Build A Niche Store 3.0 platform. The recommended approach involves implementing strict sanitization of all user inputs, particularly those processed through the q parameter in search scripts. Security measures should include the adoption of parameterized queries and proper HTML encoding of all dynamic content before rendering to user browsers. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts within the application context. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of input validation as outlined in OWASP Top Ten category a03, where insufficient input sanitization directly leads to XSS vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other application components. Additionally, the application should be updated to a patched version that addresses the specific input handling flaws in the search functionality, ensuring that all user-supplied parameters are properly validated before being processed or displayed within the web interface.