CVE-2008-2646 in meBiblio
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in meBiblio 0.4.7 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) sql parameter to dbadd.inc.php, (2) InsertJournal parameter to add_journal_mask.inc.php, (3) InsertBibliography parameter to insert_mask.inc.php, and (4) LabelYear parameter to search_mask.inc.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2024
The CVE-2008-2646 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting meBiblio version 0.4.7, a bibliographic management system that facilitates academic and research data handling. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's core components, specifically targeting four distinct input parameters across different script files. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially compromising the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive bibliographic data. The vulnerability's severity is compounded by its impact on multiple attack vectors, each corresponding to different user interaction points within the bibliographic management workflow.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through four specific entry points that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied input before processing. The sql parameter in dbadd.inc.php accepts malicious input that gets directly embedded into database operations without proper encoding or validation. Similarly, the InsertJournal parameter in add_journal_mask.inc.php and InsertBibliography parameter in insert_mask.inc.php demonstrate the same pattern of insufficient input filtering. The LabelYear parameter in search_mask.inc.php presents another avenue for attackers to inject malicious scripts. These vulnerabilities align with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represent classic injection vulnerabilities that occur when applications fail to validate or escape user-provided data before incorporating it into dynamic web content.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-2646 extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to manipulate bibliographic records, redirect users to malicious websites, or harvest session cookies from authenticated users. Given that meBiblio is designed for academic institutions and research organizations, the compromise of this system could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive research data, academic records, and potentially intellectual property. Attackers could leverage these vulnerabilities to inject malicious scripts that would execute within the context of legitimate user sessions, allowing for persistent access and data exfiltration. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which describes social engineering attacks that often involve web-based exploitation of application vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all affected parameters. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user inputs through proper escaping techniques before processing, ensuring that any potentially malicious script content is neutralized before being stored or displayed. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Additionally, regular security updates and patches should be applied to ensure that the application remains protected against known vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include thorough code reviews to identify similar patterns throughout the application, as the presence of one XSS vulnerability often indicates potential for additional flaws in the same codebase. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting these specific parameters.