CVE-2008-3073 in Simple Machines
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Simple Machines Forum (SMF) 1.1.x before 1.1.5 and 1.0.x before 1.0.13 has unknown impact and attack vectors, probably cross-site scripting (XSS), related to "use of the html-tag."
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3073 affects Simple Machines Forum versions prior to 1.1.5 and 1.0.13, representing a significant security weakness in one of the most widely deployed forum software platforms. This unspecified vulnerability specifically relates to the handling of html-tag usage within the forum's parsing mechanisms, creating potential attack vectors that could compromise user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability's classification as potentially cross-site scripting (XSS) indicates that malicious actors could exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of affected users' browsers, making it particularly dangerous for community-driven platforms where user-generated content is prevalent.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within SMF's html-tag processing functionality, allowing attackers to inject malicious code through forum posts, private messages, or other user-controllable content areas. This vulnerability operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the forum's content rendering engine where html-tag elements are processed and displayed to end users. The weakness likely exists in the forum's filtering mechanisms that should normally strip or escape potentially dangerous html elements while preserving legitimate formatting options. When users view content containing malicious html-tags, the browser executes the embedded scripts, potentially stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of logged-in users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access to forum communities and potentially compromise entire user bases. In forum environments where users trust the platform and engage in sensitive discussions, this vulnerability could enable attackers to harvest credentials, manipulate forum content, or spread malware throughout the community. The unknown attack vectors suggest that multiple entry points within the forum's html-tag processing could be exploited, making the vulnerability particularly challenging to defend against. This weakness directly impacts the principle of least privilege and data integrity, as users who should only be able to post formatted content can instead inject malicious code that affects all other forum participants.
Security mitigations for CVE-2008-3073 should prioritize immediate patching of affected SMF installations to versions 1.1.5 or 1.0.13, which contain the necessary code modifications to properly sanitize html-tag usage. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation that filters out dangerous html elements while preserving legitimate formatting capabilities, following the principle of input sanitization as outlined in CWE-79. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing content security policies that limit script execution and monitor for unusual html-tag patterns within user-generated content. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in web applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage, where malicious scripts could be executed through the XSS vector. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on input validation mechanisms are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other forum software or web applications. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious html-tag patterns, providing an additional layer of defense against this type of exploitation.