CVE-2008-3391 in Web Wiz Forum
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Web Wiz Forum 9.5 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the mode parameter to (1) admin_group_details.asp and (2) admin_category_details.asp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3391 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Web Wiz Forum version 9.5, specifically targeting administrative interfaces. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user input within the mode parameter of two key administrative scripts, admin_group_details.asp and admin_category_details.asp. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated administrator sessions, potentially compromising the entire forum administration system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web page content without proper sanitization or encoding. The vulnerability occurs because the application fails to validate or sanitize the mode parameter input before incorporating it into dynamic web content. When administrators navigate to these administrative pages with maliciously crafted mode parameter values, the injected scripts execute within the administrator's browser context, creating a persistent security risk.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to forum administrators and their users. Attackers can exploit this flaw to gain elevated privileges, modify forum settings, delete or manipulate content, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the administrative interface. The impact extends beyond simple data corruption as attackers can leverage the administrative access to compromise the entire forum infrastructure, steal user credentials, or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it targets administrative functions, meaning successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is straightforward and requires minimal technical expertise. Remote attackers need only craft malicious URLs with specially formatted mode parameters and deliver them to authenticated administrators, either through phishing emails, social engineering, or by exploiting other compromised systems within the network. The vulnerability does not require authentication to the application itself, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited against any administrator who visits the maliciously crafted page. Organizations should consider implementing network-level protections and monitoring for suspicious URL patterns, though the most effective mitigation involves immediate patching of the vulnerable software components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate application of vendor patches, implementation of input validation controls, and deployment of web application firewalls to detect and block malicious input patterns. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments and implement proper output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar issues in other applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, highlighting the importance of securing administrative interfaces and implementing proper access controls. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege for administrative accounts and regular security training for administrators to recognize potential social engineering attempts that could exploit this vulnerability.