CVE-2008-2720 in Menalto
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Menalto Gallery before 2.2.5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) host and (2) path components of a URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2720 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Menalto Gallery content management system prior to version 2.2.5. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of URL components, specifically targeting the host and path parameters that are processed during web requests. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions and data theft.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Menalto Gallery application. When the system processes incoming URLs containing host and path components, it fails to properly sanitize or escape these parameters before incorporating them into dynamically generated web pages. This inadequate sanitization creates an opening for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that gets executed when other users view affected pages. The vulnerability manifests as a classic reflected XSS attack where malicious payloads are embedded in URL parameters and executed by the victim's browser during page rendering.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing Menalto Gallery systems. Attackers can exploit this flaw to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or harvest sensitive information from authenticated sessions. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require any local access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that are publicly accessible. The impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can lead to complete compromise of user sessions and potential lateral movement within network environments.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. This categorization places the issue within the broader context of web application security weaknesses that have been extensively documented and studied in cybersecurity literature. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001, which covers "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment" and T1059.007, covering "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript." The attack chain typically involves crafting malicious URLs with embedded scripts, delivering these through phishing campaigns or compromised websites, and executing code in victim browsers to achieve persistence or data exfiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2720 primarily focus on immediate application updates and implementing robust input validation measures. Organizations should upgrade to Menalto Gallery version 2.2.5 or later, which includes proper parameter sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against script execution. Input validation should be enforced at multiple layers including URL parameter parsing, session management, and output encoding. Regular security audits and web application firewalls can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Organizations should also implement proper logging and monitoring to identify potential attack patterns and ensure that all user-supplied inputs are properly validated and escaped before being rendered in web pages.