CVE-2008-2644 in SMEWeb
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in SMEWeb 1.4b and 1.4f allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) data parameter to catalog.php, the (2) keyword parameter to search.php, the (3) page parameter to bb.php, and the (4) new_s parameter to order.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2644 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting SMEWeb versions 1.4b and 1.4f. This vulnerability resides in the web application's input validation mechanisms and allows malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session. The flaw manifests through four distinct attack vectors that target different script parameters across multiple application endpoints, demonstrating a widespread failure in sanitizing user-supplied input data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate output encoding and input validation practices within the SMEWeb application framework. Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by crafting malicious payloads and injecting them through the data parameter in catalog.php, keyword parameter in search.php, page parameter in bb.php, and new_s parameter in order.php. These parameters represent common web application inputs that typically process user search queries, navigation requests, and order processing information. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, where the application fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it in web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. An attacker could craft malicious scripts that redirect users to phishing sites, steal session cookies, or even modify application behavior through DOM manipulation. The vulnerability affects multiple functional areas of the application, suggesting that the developers failed to implement consistent input sanitization across all components. This widespread nature increases the attack surface and makes the exploitation more likely to succeed in real-world scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application stack. The recommended approach includes implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages, as well as employing strict input validation that rejects or sanitizes potentially malicious content. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which covers "Modify Existing Service" and T1059.007 which covers "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript', highlighting the need for comprehensive protection against client-side exploitation vectors. Regular security testing and code review processes should be implemented to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components and prevent future occurrences of such flaws in the software development lifecycle.