CVE-2008-3679 in PhpLinkExchange
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in index.php in IDevSpot PhpLinkExchange 1.01 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the catid parameter in a (1) user_add, (2) recip, (3) tellafriend, or (4) contact action, or (5) in a request without an action; or (6) the id parameter in a tellafriend action. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2025
The CVE-2008-3679 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in IDevSpot PhpLinkExchange version 1.01, specifically within the index.php script. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter user-supplied data before processing or rendering it within web pages. The flaw affects multiple attack vectors through various parameters including catid and id, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through different user interaction points within the application. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-79 indicates a weakness in input validation where untrusted data is directly incorporated into web pages without proper sanitization, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be executed in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of HTTP request parameters that are not adequately validated or escaped before being processed by the application. When attackers submit malicious payloads through the catid parameter in actions such as user_add, recip, tellafriend, or contact, or through the id parameter in tellafriend actions, the application fails to sanitize these inputs properly. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code that gets executed when other users view the affected pages. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can enable session hijacking, credential theft, and the execution of malicious code within victim browsers. The lack of proper input validation creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for various malicious activities including phishing attacks and data exfiltration.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-3679 is substantial for organizations using the affected IDevSpot PhpLinkExchange application, as it provides attackers with a means to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability's presence in multiple action parameters increases the attack surface significantly, making it more difficult for administrators to implement comprehensive protection measures. Users who interact with the vulnerable application become potential victims of social engineering attacks, as malicious scripts could redirect them to fraudulent sites or harvest their session cookies. The attack vector's accessibility through common web application functions like contact forms and link exchange features makes it particularly dangerous in environments where user-generated content is prevalent. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering through malicious web content, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can lead to widespread security compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters using strict validation rules and encoding output data before rendering it in web pages. Organizations should implement proper parameter validation that rejects or sanitizes potentially malicious input patterns, particularly those containing HTML tags or JavaScript code. The application should employ context-specific output encoding for different data types and ensure that all parameters including catid and id are validated against expected formats before processing. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. The remediation process should also include updating to patched versions of the software if available, as this vulnerability was present in version 1.01 and likely addressed in subsequent releases through proper input sanitization implementations.