CVE-2008-3917 in Ovidentia
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in Ovidentia 6.6.5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the field parameter in a search action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2025
The CVE-2008-3917 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Ovidentia version 6.6.5, specifically within the index.php file that handles search functionality. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws identified by the CWE organization. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input received through the field parameter during search operations, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it exists in a core application component that handles user interactions and search queries, making it accessible to any remote attacker without requiring authentication or privileged access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or HTML code and submits it through the search field parameter. When the vulnerable application processes this input and displays it in the search results or related pages without proper sanitization or output encoding, the injected code executes in the victim's browser context. This creates a persistent threat where any user who views the affected search results becomes a potential victim of the malicious payload. The attack vector is particularly insidious because search functionality is typically a fundamental and frequently used feature of web applications, making the exploitation surface wide and the impact significant. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and output encoding practices that are fundamental to preventing XSS attacks according to the OWASP Top Ten security framework.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-3917 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that compromise user sessions, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious sites. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform session hijacking by injecting script code that steals cookies or authentication tokens, potentially gaining unauthorized access to user accounts. The vulnerability also enables phishing attacks where malicious scripts can modify the browser's address bar or display fraudulent content to users. Additionally, the attack can be amplified through social engineering techniques, where attackers might craft search queries that appear legitimate to users, increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete compromise of user data and application integrity, as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the execution and credential access domains.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-3917 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective remediation involves implementing strict input sanitization that filters out or escapes potentially dangerous characters and HTML tags before processing user input. Developers should employ context-specific output encoding techniques, particularly when rendering user-supplied data in web pages, to prevent script execution in the browser context. The application should implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to add an additional layer of protection against unauthorized script execution. Regular security code reviews and automated vulnerability scanning should be integrated into the development lifecycle to identify similar issues before they can be exploited. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and input validation rules at the network perimeter to provide additional defense-in-depth measures. The vulnerability underscores the importance of following secure coding practices as recommended by the OWASP Secure Coding Practices and emphasizes the critical need for comprehensive security training for development teams to prevent similar issues in future releases.