CVE-2008-3260 in Claroline
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Claroline before 1.8.10 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the cwd parameter in a rqMkHtml action to document/rqmkhtml.php, or the query string to (2) announcements/announcements.php, (3) calendar/agenda.php, (4) course/index.php, (5) course_description/index.php, (6) document/document.php, (7) exercise/exercise.php, (8) group/group_space.php, (9) phpbb/newtopic.php, (10) phpbb/reply.php, (11) phpbb/viewtopic.php, (12) wiki/wiki.php, or (13) work/work.php in claroline/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/28/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-3260 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting Claroline version 1.8.9 and earlier, which is a widely used open-source learning management system. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within multiple script files that handle user-supplied data. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code into the application's response, potentially compromising user sessions and enabling unauthorized actions. The vulnerability impacts core functionality areas including document management, announcements, calendar events, course content, group communications, forum interactions, and wiki pages, making it particularly dangerous given Claroline's role in educational environments where users frequently interact with various content types.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through specific parameter handling within the affected Claroline modules. In the first instance, the cwd parameter in the rqMkHtml action within document/rqmkhtml.php fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into the response. Similarly, the query string parameters in multiple modules including announcements/announcements.php, calendar/agenda.php, course/index.php, course_description/index.php, document/document.php, exercise/exercise.php, group/group_space.php, phpbb/newtopic.php, phpbb/reply.php, phpbb/viewtopic.php, wiki/wiki.php, and work/work.php all exhibit the same sanitization deficiency. These parameters are directly incorporated into HTML output without proper encoding or validation, creating a pathway for attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of the victim's browser. This represents a classic reflected XSS vulnerability where attacker-controlled data is immediately reflected back to the user without appropriate filtering or encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities within the Claroline environment. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities to steal user session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify content displayed to other users, or even gain unauthorized access to restricted areas of the learning management system. Given that Claroline is commonly deployed in educational institutions, the potential for damage increases significantly as attackers could compromise student and faculty data, manipulate course materials, or disrupt educational activities. The vulnerability affects both administrators and regular users, making it particularly concerning for organizations that rely on Claroline for their educational delivery systems. The widespread nature of affected modules means that exploitation could occur across multiple functional areas of the platform, amplifying the potential attack surface.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Claroline version 1.8.10 or later, which contains the necessary patches for these XSS vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application code is essential for preventing similar issues in the future. The CWE-79 standard provides specific guidance on preventing cross-site scripting vulnerabilities through proper input sanitization and output encoding practices. Security measures should include implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, employing proper HTML escaping for all dynamic content, and conducting regular security audits of web applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1566 (Phishing) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) as attackers could use these XSS flaws to establish persistent access or deliver additional malicious payloads to compromised users. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious parameter patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.