CVE-2008-3505 in PolyPager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in PolyPager 1.0 rc2 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the nr parameter to the default URI.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3505 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw affecting PolyPager version 1.0 release candidate 2 and earlier iterations. This security weakness resides within the web application's input validation mechanisms, specifically targeting the handling of the 'nr' parameter in the default URI. The issue stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute unauthorized scripts within the context of victim browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing crafted script code within the 'nr' parameter value. When a victim accesses this specially crafted link, the PolyPager application processes the parameter without adequate sanitization and subsequently reflects the malicious content back to the user's browser. This reflective XSS vulnerability operates through the web application's default URI handling mechanism, making it particularly dangerous as it can be easily triggered through simple web navigation. The flaw manifests as a direct injection point where unvalidated input flows directly into the HTML output without proper encoding or validation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to the confidentiality and integrity of user sessions within the PolyPager application environment. Attackers can leverage this weakness to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as the injected scripts can manipulate the user interface, capture keystrokes, or even establish persistent backdoors through more sophisticated attack vectors. The vulnerability affects all users interacting with the affected PolyPager version, creating a widespread security exposure that can be exploited through various attack vectors including phishing campaigns, social engineering, or direct web link distribution.
The underlying flaw aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in web applications, and represents a common pattern in web development where input validation is insufficient or completely absent. This vulnerability can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers spearphishing through social media, as attackers can easily craft malicious links targeting the specific parameter injection point. Organizations using affected PolyPager versions face potential data breaches, session hijacking, and reputation damage, while the vulnerability's ease of exploitation makes it particularly attractive to automated attack tools and script kiddies. The remediation approach requires immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, specifically ensuring that all user-supplied parameters are sanitized before being incorporated into web responses. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and regular security code reviews can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities in the future.