CVE-2008-2566 in Php-address Book
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in PHP Address Book 3.1.5 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the group parameter to (1) index.php or (2) the default URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-2566 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in PHP Address Book version 3.1.5 and earlier systems. This flaw resides in the application's handling of user input through the group parameter, which is processed through two primary entry points: index.php and the default URI. The vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into web pages. This weakness enables attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or data manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the PHP Address Book application. When the group parameter is submitted through either index.php or the default URI, the application fails to adequately escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This creates an environment where an attacker can inject malicious payloads that will execute whenever other users view the affected pages. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects core application functionality where users might naturally expect to see their group data, making it difficult to distinguish between legitimate and malicious content.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using PHP Address Book versions 3.1.5 or earlier. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform session hijacking attacks, steal user credentials, or redirect victims to malicious websites. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no privileged access or complex exploitation techniques, making it accessible to even novice attackers. The vulnerability can be exploited through simple HTTP requests that include malicious script payloads in the group parameter, potentially compromising all users who interact with the affected application. According to ATT&CK framework category T1531 - Account Access Token Manipulation, this vulnerability directly enables adversaries to gain unauthorized access to user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the application environment.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2566 should focus on immediate application updates and input validation improvements. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to PHP Address Book version 3.1.6 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization techniques including HTML entity encoding for all user-supplied data before rendering in web pages would provide defense-in-depth protection. The implementation of Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can also serve as an additional protective layer by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed within the application context. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit XSS vulnerabilities in real-time. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications within the organization's infrastructure, as this type of weakness often indicates broader security gaps in web application development practices.