CVE-2008-3098 in cms
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in admin/usercheck.php in fuzzylime (cms) before 3.03 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the user parameter to the login form.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3098 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the fuzzylime content management system prior to version 3.03. This vulnerability specifically affects the admin/usercheck.php component which handles user authentication processes. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input received through the login form's user parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers.
This XSS vulnerability operates through a classic injection attack vector where remote attackers can manipulate the user parameter to submit malicious payloads that are subsequently processed and rendered without adequate input validation or output encoding. The affected fuzzylime CMS version demonstrates a fundamental failure in implementing proper security controls for handling user-supplied data, particularly within authentication mechanisms where such vulnerabilities can be exploited to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to administrative functions. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can be leveraged to hijack user sessions, deface websites, or redirect users to malicious sites.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are severe given that it targets the login form functionality which represents a critical attack surface for any web application. Attackers can exploit this weakness to execute persistent XSS attacks against authenticated users, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or privilege escalation within the CMS environment. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw where untrusted data is improperly handled in web applications. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability would map to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1190 for exploitation of vulnerabilities and T1566 for initial access through malicious web content.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a prime example of why input validation and output encoding must be implemented at every layer of web application development. The flaw demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper sanitization routines for all user-supplied data, particularly within authentication and administrative interfaces where the potential for damage is greatest. Organizations using fuzzylime CMS versions prior to 3.03 should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and application-level security controls to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires immediate patching to fuzzylime CMS version 3.03 or later where the XSS protection mechanisms have been properly implemented. Additionally, administrators should implement proper input validation controls within the application code to ensure that all user parameters are sanitized before being processed or rendered. The vulnerability highlights the necessity of employing defense-in-depth strategies including web application firewalls, regular security assessments, and comprehensive input validation routines. Security measures should also include monitoring for suspicious user behavior patterns and implementing proper logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues within their web applications and ensure that all user-supplied data undergoes appropriate sanitization and validation processes before being processed by the application.