CVE-2008-2839 in Traindepot
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the search module in Traindepot 0.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the query parameter to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2024
The CVE-2008-2839 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Traindepot 0.1 web application's search functionality. This vulnerability exists in the index.php file where the query parameter is not properly sanitized or validated before being processed and displayed to users. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious scripts or HTML content through the search interface, creating a persistent security risk that can affect all users interacting with the vulnerable application.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a reflected XSS attack vector where user input is directly echoed back to the browser without proper sanitization. The attack occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing script code within the search query parameter and submits it to the vulnerable index.php endpoint. When other users view the search results page, the injected script executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the context of the web application. An attacker could craft payloads that steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or even modify the content displayed to users. The vulnerability affects the application's integrity and confidentiality, as it provides a means for unauthorized parties to manipulate the user experience and potentially gain access to sensitive information. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the attack payload is immediately executed when users access the search results page, making it particularly dangerous for widespread exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The application must sanitize all user-supplied input through strict validation rules and encode output data before rendering it in web pages. Implementing Content Security Policy headers and using parameterized queries for any dynamic content generation can significantly reduce the risk. Organizations should also consider deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit such vulnerabilities. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of input validation in web applications and aligns with the ATT&CK framework's web application attack patterns, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code through user input manipulation.
The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly simple search functionality can become a critical attack vector when proper security controls are not implemented. Regular security testing and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar injection flaws across all application components, as this type of vulnerability remains prevalent in web applications due to insufficient input sanitization practices. The remediation process requires comprehensive testing to ensure that all user-supplied data is properly handled and that the application maintains its security posture against various injection attack vectors.