CVE-2008-3380 in EasyBookMarker
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in ajaxp_backend.php in MyioSoft EasyBookMarker 4.0 trial edition (tr) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the rs parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2025
The CVE-2008-3380 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the MyioSoft EasyBookMarker 4.0 trial edition, specifically within the ajaxp_backend.php component. This vulnerability arises from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly process user-supplied data before incorporating it into web responses. The rs parameter serves as the primary attack vector, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers who interact with the vulnerable application.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that enables attackers to execute malicious scripts in user browsers. The flaw demonstrates poor input handling practices where the application directly incorporates user-provided parameters without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms. The attack occurs when a remote attacker crafts a malicious payload containing script code and passes it through the rs parameter, which is then processed by the vulnerable ajaxp_backend.php script and subsequently rendered to unsuspecting users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and defacement of the vulnerable application. Once exploited, the injected scripts can access user sessions, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even modify application functionality. The vulnerability affects all users of the MyioSoft EasyBookMarker 4.0 trial edition, making it particularly dangerous as it can compromise the security of any individual who interacts with the compromised web application. This type of vulnerability is categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Initial Access through Web Shell, demonstrating how XSS flaws can serve as entry points for more sophisticated attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user inputs including the rs parameter through proper encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding before rendering content. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks. The application should also employ proper parameter validation to ensure that only expected data types and formats are accepted. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of input validation and output encoding as fundamental security practices that align with industry standards such as those recommended by OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. The fix requires updating the ajaxp_backend.php script to properly sanitize the rs parameter and implement comprehensive security measures to prevent similar cross-site scripting vulnerabilities from occurring in the future.