CVE-2008-3779 in Five Star Review Script
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in search/index.php in Five Star Review Script allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the words parameter in a search action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2024
The CVE-2008-3779 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Five Star Review Script web application, specifically targeting the search/index.php component. This vulnerability exists in the handling of user input through the words parameter during search operations, creating a significant security risk that can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication or privileged access. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental failure in input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that are critical for web application security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's inadequate sanitization of user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web page content. When users perform searches through the script's interface, the words parameter containing search terms is directly processed and rendered back to the user's browser without proper encoding or filtering of potentially malicious content. This creates an environment where attackers can inject arbitrary HTML tags, JavaScript code, or other malicious payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically affects the search functionality, making it particularly dangerous as search terms often contain user-generated content that may include crafted attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that leverage the trust relationship between users and the vulnerable application. An attacker who successfully injects malicious code through this XSS vector can potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, or even establish persistent backdoors within the application's user base. The attack surface is particularly concerning because search functionality is typically accessed by many users, amplifying the potential reach of a successful exploitation. This vulnerability can be classified under CWE-79 as "Cross-site Scripting" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 for "Account Access Removal" and T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript" when considering the execution of malicious scripts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-3779 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding practices throughout the application's codebase. The primary defense mechanism involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper encoding before rendering content back to users, specifically implementing HTML entity encoding for the words parameter in search results. Additionally, developers should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and establish proper input validation routines that reject or sanitize potentially dangerous characters. The fix should also include implementing proper output escaping mechanisms in the search/index.php file, ensuring that any data retrieved from the words parameter is properly encoded before being inserted into HTML contexts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, while regular security code reviews and automated vulnerability scanning should be integrated into the development lifecycle to prevent similar issues from emerging in future releases.