CVE-2008-2852 in CGIWrap
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in CGIWrap before 4.1, when an Internet Explorer based browser is used, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors related to failure to set the charset in error messages.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2852 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the CGIWrap web application framework that affected versions prior to 4.1. This vulnerability specifically targets the interaction between CGIWrap and Internet Explorer browsers, creating a security risk that could be exploited by remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a victim's browser session. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly set the character encoding in error messages, which creates an opening for attackers to inject malicious code that gets executed when users view these error pages.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the CGIWrap error handling mechanism. When CGIWrap encounters an error condition, it generates error messages that should properly declare their character set to prevent misinterpretation of special characters. However, the absence of proper charset declaration in error responses creates a parsing ambiguity that Internet Explorer browsers are particularly susceptible to. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that exploit this charset handling weakness to inject JavaScript code or HTML elements that execute in the victim's browser context, bypassing normal security restrictions imposed by the browser's same-origin policy.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user information, manipulate web content, or redirect users to malicious websites. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust relationship between the user's browser and the web application, allowing attackers to execute code that appears to originate from a legitimate source. This vulnerability affects organizations using CGIWrap versions before 4.1, particularly those with significant Internet Explorer user bases, as the exploit requires specific browser behavior to be effective.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws where applications fail to properly encode output or validate input. The attack pattern follows typical XSS exploitation techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter. Organizations should prioritize updating CGIWrap to version 4.1 or later, implementing proper input sanitization measures, and configuring web applications to explicitly declare character encoding in all HTTP responses. Additional protective measures include deploying web application firewalls, implementing content security policies, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar encoding vulnerabilities in other web applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper character encoding handling in web applications and serves as a reminder that seemingly minor implementation details can create significant security risks when they interact with specific browser behaviors.