CVE-2008-3201 in Pagefusion
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in index.php in Pagefusion 1.5 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) acct_fname and (2) acct_lname parameters in an edit action, and the (3) PID, (4) PGID, and (5) rez parameters. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-3201 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Pagefusion 1.5 content management system, specifically targeting the index.php script that handles user account editing functionality. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The affected parameters include acct_fname and acct_lname for first and last name fields during account editing, as well as PID, PGID, and rez parameters that likely correspond to page identifiers, group identifiers, and reservation data respectively. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack vector means that malicious actors can exploit this flaw without requiring physical access to the target system or any privileged credentials.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper sanitization of user input within the Pagefusion application's editing interface. When users submit data through the edit action form, the application fails to adequately validate or escape special characters in the specified parameters, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content directly into the web application's response. This injection can occur in multiple locations within the application's user interface, specifically targeting the account editing form fields and potentially other dynamic content areas that utilize the affected parameters. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data corruption, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe for organizations utilizing Pagefusion 1.5, as it creates multiple attack vectors that could be leveraged for various malicious activities. Attackers could exploit these flaws to create persistent XSS payloads that would execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or privilege escalation within the application. The vulnerability's presence in the account editing functionality means that any user with access to the edit interface could become a vector for XSS attacks, potentially compromising the entire user base. According to ATT&CK framework's T1531 technique for "Account Access Removal", while this specific vulnerability doesn't directly remove account access, it creates conditions where attackers can gain unauthorized access through session manipulation and credential theft.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to protect their systems. The primary remediation approach involves implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied data, particularly in the parameters mentioned in the vulnerability description. The application should employ strict sanitization routines that remove or escape potentially dangerous characters before processing user input. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. The vulnerability's age and the fact that it was identified in 2008 suggests that Pagefusion 1.5 is likely an outdated system that should be upgraded to a supported version or replaced entirely, as continued use of this vulnerable software creates ongoing security risks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications within their infrastructure.