CVE-2008-3023 in Wiki
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in FreeStyle Wiki 3.6.2 and earlier, and 3.6.3 dev3 and earlier development versions, when Internet Explorer is used, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, a different issue than CVE-2005-1799.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3023 represents a cross-site scripting flaw affecting FreeStyle Wiki versions 3.6.2 and earlier, as well as development versions up to 3.6.3 dev3. This security weakness specifically manifests when the affected wiki software operates in conjunction with Internet Explorer browsers, creating a potential attack vector for remote threat actors. The vulnerability enables malicious users to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the wiki environment, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. Unlike CVE-2005-1799 which addressed a different XSS vector, this particular flaw demonstrates the persistent nature of cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in web-based collaborative platforms where user-generated content is processed and displayed without adequate sanitization.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the FreeStyle Wiki application. When Internet Explorer processes user-supplied content through the wiki interface, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This processing gap allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that, when executed in a victim's browser, can perform unauthorized actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or modifying content within the wiki. The vulnerability's specificity to Internet Explorer indicates that the issue may be related to how Microsoft's browser handles certain character sequences or encoding methods that differ from other browsers, making it particularly dangerous in environments where IE is the primary browser for wiki access.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-3023 extends beyond simple data corruption, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can compromise entire wiki ecosystems. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could manipulate wiki content to spread malware, conduct phishing attacks, or establish persistent backdoors within organizational wikis that serve as knowledge repositories and collaboration platforms. The implications are particularly severe for enterprises relying on FreeStyle Wiki for internal documentation, project management, or knowledge sharing, as compromised wikis can serve as entry points for broader network infiltration. Additionally, the vulnerability undermines user trust in the wiki platform, potentially leading to reduced adoption of collaborative tools and increased administrative overhead for monitoring and remediation efforts.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of affected FreeStyle Wiki installations to versions that address the XSS flaw. Organizations must also deploy robust input validation mechanisms that sanitize all user-generated content before processing, implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution, and conducting regular security assessments of wiki configurations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting as a fundamental web application security weakness requiring comprehensive input sanitization. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communications and credential access, as attackers can leverage the compromised wiki to harvest session tokens and establish persistent access to organizational resources. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious script injection patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts.