CVE-2008-3771 in Videosharing
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in members.php in Pars4u Videosharing 1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the PageNo parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2024
The CVE-2008-3771 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the Pars4u Videosharing 1 web application, specifically within the members.php script. This vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 as an improper neutralization of input during web output, making it a fundamental security weakness that has plagued web applications for decades. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input parameters, particularly the PageNo parameter that is processed without adequate validation or encoding mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that are then executed in the context of other users' browsers when they navigate to affected pages. The vulnerability affects the application's member section where pagination functionality is implemented, creating an attack surface where unfiltered input directly influences dynamic web content generation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly encode or validate the PageNo parameter before incorporating it into HTML responses. This parameter typically handles pagination requests for member listings or content displays, and when improperly handled, allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML fragments. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious input is immediately reflected back to users without being stored on the server. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication or privileged access, making it a low-hanging fruit for threat actors. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the critical importance of implementing proper output encoding mechanisms for all user-controllable data.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to both the application and its users. When exploited, attackers can execute arbitrary scripts in victims' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as attackers could manipulate the application's behavior to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users. This vulnerability particularly affects the integrity and confidentiality of user data, as it enables attackers to intercept sensitive information or modify user sessions. The attack can be delivered through various means including phishing emails, compromised advertisements, or direct injection into URLs, making it difficult to defend against entirely. The vulnerability also impacts the application's trust model, as users may lose confidence in the platform's security measures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-3771 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters, particularly those used in dynamic content generation such as the PageNo parameter. Implementing proper HTML encoding for all output data ensures that any potentially malicious input is rendered harmless when displayed in web browsers. The application should employ a whitelist-based validation approach for pagination parameters, accepting only expected numeric values within defined ranges. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting script execution. Regular security testing including automated scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and ISO/IEC 27001 security frameworks. The remediation process should include comprehensive code review and input sanitization across all application components that handle user-controllable data, ensuring that similar weaknesses do not exist in other parts of the system.