CVE-2008-2861 in Site Composer
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in eLineStudio Site Composer (ESC) 2.6 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) topic and (2) button parameters to ansFAQ.asp and the (3) id and (4) txtEmail parameters to login.asp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2861 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting eLineStudio Site Composer version 2.6 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the web application's input validation mechanisms, specifically targeting four distinct parameters across two different ASP pages. The affected parameters include topic and button in ansFAQ.asp, as well as id and txtEmail in login.asp, creating multiple attack vectors for malicious actors seeking to exploit this weakness. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a code injection attack that occurs when an application includes untrusted data in a new web page without proper validation or escaping, allowing attackers to execute scripts in the victim's browser context.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables remote attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the targeted web application. When users interact with the vulnerable parameters, the malicious code becomes part of the dynamic web page content and executes within the context of other users' browsers. This creates a persistent threat where attackers can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input sanitization practices where user-supplied data flows directly into HTML output without proper encoding or validation. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that exploit the lack of proper parameter validation in the ASP scripts, potentially leading to complete browser compromise and unauthorized access to user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, creating potential for significant security breaches within the targeted web application environment. Users who access the vulnerable site may unknowingly execute malicious code that can harvest sensitive information, modify web page content, or establish backdoor access to the application. The vulnerability affects authentication and FAQ functionality, potentially compromising user accounts and exposing sensitive data. Organizations running affected versions of eLineStudio Site Composer face risks of data theft, session hijacking, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects core application functions including user authentication and content management.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2861 should prioritize immediate remediation through software updates to version 2.7 or later, which presumably contain the necessary patches to address the input validation issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout their web applications, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being processed or displayed. The implementation of Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566 which covers Phishing techniques, and T1059 which covers Command and Scripting Interpreter, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the threat. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while establishing proper security awareness training for developers to prevent similar input validation flaws in future applications.