CVE-2008-3295 in XOOPS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in modules/system/admin.php in XOOPS 2.0.18.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the fct parameter. 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 • 12/20/2025
The CVE-2008-3295 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the XOOPS content management system version 2.0.18.1. This vulnerability specifically affects the modules/system/admin.php file and operates through the fct parameter, creating a significant security risk for web applications utilizing this version of the platform. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the administrative interface, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code into the system. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack vector means that threat actors can exploit this flaw without requiring local system access or authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that rely on XOOPS for content management and administrative functions.
This XSS vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is a fundamental web application security weakness that occurs when applications fail to properly validate or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web pages. The attack exploits the lack of proper sanitization of the fct parameter, which is typically used to determine the function or action to be executed within the administrative module. When an attacker manipulates this parameter with malicious script code, the vulnerable application processes the input without adequate filtering, subsequently executing the injected payload in the context of other users' browsers who visit affected pages. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution, as it can potentially enable session hijacking, credential theft, and other sophisticated attacks that leverage the trust relationship between the web application and its users.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-3295 is substantial for organizations running XOOPS 2.0.18.1, as it provides attackers with a direct pathway to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to administrative functions. When successful, this vulnerability can allow attackers to execute malicious scripts in the browsers of unsuspecting users, potentially leading to complete system compromise if administrators are tricked into visiting malicious links. The attack requires minimal technical expertise and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous for widespread exploitation. Additionally, the vulnerability's location within the administrative module suggests that successful exploitation could provide attackers with elevated privileges, potentially allowing them to modify content, create new user accounts, or access sensitive system information. The lack of detailed information about the vulnerability's origin and the third-party nature of the reporting adds to the uncertainty surrounding potential variants or related issues that might exist within the same codebase.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement comprehensive mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in administrative interfaces. The recommended approach involves implementing strict parameter validation for the fct parameter within the admin.php module, ensuring that all input is properly sanitized and escaped before processing. Security measures should include implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, regular code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other modules, and immediate upgrading to patched versions of XOOPS. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for Scripting, as it involves the execution of malicious scripts through web-based interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious parameter values, while establishing monitoring procedures to identify potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify additional vulnerabilities within the XOOPS platform and similar web applications, ensuring comprehensive protection against evolving threat landscapes.