CVE-2008-3316 in Forum plugin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the search feature in the Forum plugin before 2.7.1 for Geeklog allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, probably related to (1) public_html/index.php, (2) config.php, and (3) functions.inc.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2017
The CVE-2008-3316 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Forum plugin of Geeklog content management system prior to version 2.7.1. This vulnerability exposes the system to remote code execution through malicious script injection, fundamentally compromising user security and data integrity. The vulnerability specifically targets the search functionality of the Forum plugin, making it particularly dangerous as search features are commonly used and trusted by end users. The affected vectors include public_html/index.php, config.php, and functions.inc files, indicating a widespread impact across core application components. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when malicious actors craft specially crafted input strings that contain executable scripts or HTML code within the search parameters. When the Forum plugin processes these inputs without proper sanitization, the malicious content gets embedded into the generated web pages and executed in the context of other users' browsers. The attack vectors through index.php, config.php, and functions.inc suggest that the vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the plugin's core files. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the fundamental search functionality, which is likely to be accessed frequently by users and administrators, amplifying the potential impact of successful exploitation.
Operationally, this vulnerability creates significant risks for Geeklog installations using affected Forum plugin versions. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute persistent XSS attacks against unsuspecting users, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or data exfiltration. The impact extends beyond individual user compromise to potential system-wide security degradation, especially if administrators or privileged users interact with the compromised search functionality. The vulnerability's presence in core configuration and function files indicates that the attack surface is extensive, potentially affecting multiple aspects of the application's behavior and security posture. Organizations relying on Geeklog systems may experience unauthorized access, data breaches, and reputational damage if this vulnerability is exploited. This vulnerability directly maps to attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1566 - Phishing and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, demonstrating how such flaws can enable broader attack chains.
The remediation strategy for CVE-2008-3316 requires immediate patching of the Forum plugin to version 2.7.1 or later, which contains the necessary input sanitization and output encoding fixes. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation measures across all user-facing interfaces, particularly search functions, to prevent malicious script injection. Additionally, implementing proper output encoding mechanisms in the affected files index.php, config.php, and functions.inc will provide defense-in-depth protection. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, while conducting regular security audits of plugin components. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing secure coding practices that prevent XSS attacks through proper input sanitization and output encoding. Regular security testing and monitoring of web applications for similar vulnerabilities will help prevent exploitation of similar flaws in other system components.