CVE-2008-2787 in OpenDocMan
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in out.php in OpenDocMan 1.2.5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the last_message parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2787 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the OpenDocMan document management system version 1.2.5. This vulnerability specifically affects the out.php script which processes user input without proper sanitization, creating an exploitable condition that enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into the application's response. The flaw manifests through the last_message parameter, which serves as an entry point for attacker-controlled data that bypasses the application's input validation mechanisms. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to execute scripts in the context of other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing script code and passes it through the last_message parameter in the out.php script. When the application processes this input and displays it without proper encoding or filtering, the injected script executes within the victim's browser session. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. This vulnerability represents a classic case of insufficient input validation and output encoding, where the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content. The attack vector is particularly dangerous as it requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious link or page, making it a prime target for social engineering campaigns.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-2787 is significant for organizations using OpenDocMan 1.2.5, as it provides attackers with a means to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive documents and information. The vulnerability creates persistent security risks that can be exploited across multiple user sessions, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized document access, and system compromise. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving code injection and session management flaws, enabling adversaries to maintain persistent access and escalate privileges within the affected environment. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in unauthorized data access, modification of document metadata, and potential lateral movement within networks where OpenDocMan is deployed. Organizations may face regulatory compliance issues and reputational damage if such vulnerabilities are exploited successfully.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2787 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user inputs, particularly the last_message parameter, by implementing strict validation rules and encoding output before rendering in web pages. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and patch management, as the issue was resolved in subsequent versions of OpenDocMan through proper input sanitization and validation. Security teams should conduct comprehensive code reviews to identify similar patterns of insufficient input validation and implement automated security testing to prevent future occurrences of this class of vulnerability. Additionally, user education regarding suspicious links and the importance of keeping software updated can help reduce the attack surface for this and related vulnerabilities.