CVE-2008-3937 in OpenDb
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Open Media Collectors Database (OpenDb) 1.0.6 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) user_id parameter in an edit action to user_admin.php, the (2) title parameter to listings.php, and the (3) redirect_url parameter to user_profile.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2025
The CVE-2008-3937 vulnerability affects the Open Media Collectors Database version 1.0.6, a web-based application designed for managing media collections. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that exposes the application to cross-site scripting attacks, potentially allowing remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of victims' browsers. The vulnerability manifests through three distinct parameter injection points within the application's core functionality, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited across multiple user interaction points.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the OpenDb application's PHP scripts. Specifically the user_id parameter in user_admin.php, the title parameter in listings.php, and the redirect_url parameter in user_profile.php all fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into web responses. This lack of proper data sanitization creates opportunities for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that executes when other users view the affected pages. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, deface the application, steal sensitive user information, or redirect users to malicious websites. When attackers exploit the user_id parameter in user_admin.php, they can manipulate administrative functions and potentially gain elevated privileges within the application. The title parameter in listings.php allows attackers to inject malicious content into media listings that will execute when users browse these pages, while the redirect_url parameter in user_profile.php can be used to create deceptive redirects that trick users into visiting malicious sites. These vulnerabilities align with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering tactics involving the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities to deliver malicious payloads.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding measures across all user-supplied parameters. The application should implement strict sanitization routines that strip or encode potentially dangerous characters before processing user input. Additionally, developers should implement Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution, and all parameters should be validated against whitelisted safe values where possible. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security audits and code reviews to identify similar input validation flaws. Organizations using OpenDb version 1.0.6 should upgrade to a patched version immediately, as this vulnerability has existed since 2008 and represents a well-known weakness in web application security practices. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that all injection points have been properly secured and that legitimate user functionality remains intact while preventing malicious code execution.