CVE-2008-2997 in Gravity Board X
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in Gravity Board X (GBX) 2.0 Beta allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the subject parameter in a postnewsubmit (aka create new thread) action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2997 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Gravity Board X 2.0 Beta forum software, specifically manifesting in the index.php script during the postnewsubmit action. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation, commonly known as cross-site scripting. The flaw exists in the handling of user-supplied data within the subject parameter of new thread creation functionality, creating an exploitable vector that enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code into the forum's output.
The technical execution of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious payload containing script code within the subject field when creating a new thread through the postnewsubmit action. When other users view the affected thread, the injected code executes in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical failure in input validation and output encoding practices within the GBX application, as the software does not properly sanitize or escape user input before rendering it in web pages. This lack of proper sanitization allows attackers to bypass security mechanisms designed to prevent malicious code execution in web contexts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the forum environment. Attackers could potentially use the XSS flaw to steal cookies from authenticated users, execute unauthorized actions on their behalf, or even establish persistent backdoors through malicious script delivery. The vulnerability affects all users of GBX 2.0 Beta who view threads containing the malicious subject content, making it particularly dangerous in community forum settings where users frequently interact with thread subjects. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no special privileges or authentication to exploit, making it accessible to anyone with access to the forum's thread creation functionality.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user input, particularly parameters used in dynamic content generation, through proper HTML entity encoding before rendering in web pages. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against script execution. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and the ATT&CK framework's web application attack patterns, specifically addressing the execution of malicious code through user input manipulation. Organizations should also consider implementing proper web application firewalls and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The fix typically requires modifying the index.php script to properly validate and escape the subject parameter before storing or displaying it, ensuring that any potentially malicious script content is neutralized before reaching end users.