CVE-2008-3121 in CentreWare Web
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Xerox CentreWare Web (CWW) before 4.6.46 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/14/2019
The CVE-2008-3121 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Xerox CentreWare Web software versions prior to 4.6.46, exposing organizations to significant cross-site scripting attacks. This vulnerability specifically affects the web-based management interface of Xerox multifunction devices, creating a pathway for authenticated attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of the victim's browser. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application framework, allowing attackers to inject malicious code through unspecified vectors that typically involve user-controllable parameters within the application's web interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in web applications where untrusted data is improperly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The vulnerability operates by exploiting the application's failure to properly escape or validate user-supplied input that gets reflected back to users in web responses. In the context of CentreWare Web, this means that when authenticated users interact with the web interface, malicious payloads can be injected into parameters that are subsequently displayed without proper sanitization, creating an environment where attackers can execute scripts in the victim's browser context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, redirect users to malicious sites, or even perform actions on behalf of authenticated users within the application. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to the device management interface, potentially gaining control over document management features, printer settings, and administrative functions. The authenticated nature of the vulnerability means that attackers typically need valid credentials to exploit the flaw, but once compromised, they can operate within the privileges of the authenticated user, making the attack particularly dangerous for privileged accounts.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching to version 4.6.46 or later, which addresses the input validation gaps. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of the CentreWare Web interface to only authorized personnel. Regular security assessments of web applications should include thorough input validation testing and output encoding verification to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging. The mitigation strategy should also incorporate web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious script injection patterns, as well as regular monitoring of web application logs for anomalous activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing proper input sanitization techniques as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security principles and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage in web-based attacks.