CVE-2008-3422 in Mono
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the ASP.net class libraries in Mono 2.0 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via crafted attributes related to (1) HtmlControl.cs (PreProcessRelativeReference), (2) HtmlForm.cs (RenderAttributes), (3) HtmlInputButton (RenderAttributes), (4) HtmlInputRadioButton (RenderAttributes), and (5) HtmlSelect (RenderChildren).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3422 represents a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability affecting Mono 2.0 and earlier versions of the ASP.NET class libraries. This flaw resides within fundamental HTML rendering components that process user input and generate web content, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of vulnerable web applications. The vulnerability impacts multiple core classes including HtmlControl.cs, HtmlForm.cs, HtmlInputButton, HtmlInputRadioButton, and HtmlSelect, all of which handle HTML attribute rendering and processing. These components are essential building blocks for web forms and HTML element generation within the Mono framework, making the attack surface particularly broad and impactful.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the HTML rendering pipeline. When the affected Mono classes process user-supplied attributes, they fail to properly escape or validate special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. The specific methods PreProcessRelativeReference in HtmlControl.cs, RenderAttributes in HtmlForm.cs, and similar methods in the other affected classes do not adequately sanitize attribute values before rendering them into HTML output. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads through carefully crafted input that gets directly embedded into the rendered HTML without proper encoding or filtering. The vulnerability operates at the presentation layer where user input transitions into rendered web content, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass traditional server-side security controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-3422 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the ability to execute arbitrary web scripts in the context of vulnerable applications. This capability enables various malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, defacement of web applications, and potential lateral movement within network environments. Attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities to steal user credentials, access sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious sites. The widespread use of Mono in web applications, particularly those leveraging ASP.NET frameworks, means that organizations running affected versions face significant risk exposure. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects core rendering functionality, making it difficult to patch selectively and requiring comprehensive application updates or framework upgrades.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-3422 center around immediate version upgrades to Mono 2.1 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms at multiple layers of their web applications, particularly focusing on HTML attribute handling and user input processing. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against malicious script execution even if the underlying vulnerability remains unpatched. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of affected Mono versions and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1203 for exploitation of web application vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security scanning to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting these types of rendering vulnerabilities.