CVE-2008-3781 in GBrowse
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in GMOD GBrowse before 1.69 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2018
The CVE-2008-3781 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the GMOD GBrowse genome browser software prior to version 1.69. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting and exposes the application to remote code execution through malicious web script injection. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of GBrowse, which is widely used in genomic research for visualizing and analyzing DNA sequences and related biological data.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the GBrowse application's web interface. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input through unspecified vectors that ultimately get rendered in the browser context without proper sanitization. This allows remote threat actors to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code that executes in the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to manipulate genomic data visualization, steal sensitive research information, or redirect users to malicious sites. Given that GBrowse is commonly used in research institutions and healthcare organizations, the potential for data compromise is significant. The vulnerability affects not just individual user sessions but could potentially impact entire research databases and collaborative projects that rely on the application's integrity.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to GMOD GBrowse version 1.69 or later, which contains the necessary patches for input validation and output encoding. Additional protective measures include implementing Content Security Policy headers, deploying web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments of the application environment. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for initial access through malicious web content and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where genomic research data is highly sensitive and valuable.
Organizations utilizing GBrowse should also consider implementing proper input sanitization frameworks, regular security code reviews, and network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions in scientific applications where data integrity and security are paramount. Given the widespread use of genomic browsers in research, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to research data confidentiality and institutional security posture.