CVE-2008-2561 in 427BB
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in 427BB 2.3.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) PATH_INFO to (a) register.php, (b) reminder.php, and (c) search.php; the (2) uname, (3) email, and (4) email2 parameters to register.php; the (5) email parameter to reminder.php; and the (6) keywords parameter to search.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2561 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting the 427BB 2.3.1 web application framework. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's core components, specifically targeting several key pages that handle user input. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized access, session hijacking, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability manifests through multiple attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous as it provides multiple entry points for exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs due to the application's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing or displaying it within web pages. When attackers submit malicious payloads through the specified parameters, the application directly incorporates this unvalidated input into its response without appropriate encoding or filtering mechanisms. The PATH_INFO parameter injection affects register.php, reminder.php, and search.php, while specific form parameters such as uname, email, email2, and keywords in their respective files create additional attack surfaces. These vulnerabilities fall under CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications where input is not properly validated or escaped before being rendered to users.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-2561 is severe and multifaceted, potentially enabling attackers to compromise user sessions and steal sensitive information. An attacker could craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by victims, would execute scripts in their browsers to capture session cookies or redirect them to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects core user registration and password recovery functionality, making it particularly dangerous as these are frequently used features. Attackers could exploit the uname parameter in register.php to inject malicious code that would execute whenever the user's name appears in the application interface. Similarly, the email and email2 parameters in the registration process could be used to deliver phishing attacks or steal user credentials. The reminder.php vulnerability with the email parameter could enable credential harvesting, while the search.php vulnerability with keywords parameter could allow for more sophisticated attacks through search result manipulation.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531, which involves using malicious scripts to gain access to user sessions or steal credentials. The attack surface covers multiple application functions including user registration, password recovery, and search capabilities, making it a comprehensive vector for exploitation. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple files indicates a systemic lack of input validation throughout the application, suggesting that additional unpatched vulnerabilities may exist. Organizations using 427BB 2.3.1 should consider this as part of a broader security assessment, as the framework's architecture appears to lack consistent sanitization measures. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with access to the affected web application.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2561 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding across all user-facing application components. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper escaping mechanisms before any processing or display occurs. Application developers should implement context-specific encoding for different data types, ensuring that HTML, JavaScript, and URL parameters are properly escaped according to their usage contexts. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, though this serves as a supplementary defense rather than a primary fix. Regular security code reviews and input validation testing should be integrated into the development lifecycle to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future releases. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, while conducting regular penetration testing to identify other potential XSS vulnerabilities within their web applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of defense-in-depth security practices and the necessity of comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle.