CVE-2008-3941 in BizDirectory
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in BizDirectory 2.04 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the page parameter in a search action to the default URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3941 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw affecting BizDirectory version 2.04 and earlier systems. This issue resides within the web application's input validation mechanisms, specifically when processing user-supplied data through the search functionality. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize or encode user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages, creating an opening for malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the page parameter within the search action of the default URI endpoint. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when submitted through the search interface, get processed and reflected back to users without adequate sanitization. This reflective XSS condition allows threat actors to inject HTML code or JavaScript that executes in the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a well-documented and widely recognized class of web application security flaws.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the application. When users interact with the search functionality, their browsers execute the injected scripts, which can capture cookies, redirect to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where BizDirectory serves as a business-critical application for managing directory information. The reflected nature of the attack means that victims must actively engage with the malicious link or page, but the ease of crafting such payloads makes this attack vector highly effective in social engineering campaigns.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves input validation and output encoding techniques that ensure all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being incorporated into web responses. This includes implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all dynamic content and employing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. Additionally, the application should utilize parameterized queries and validate input lengths and formats to prevent injection attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security scanning to detect similar vulnerabilities. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to technique T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, highlighting the need for proper application hardening and regular vulnerability assessments. The remediation process should include comprehensive code review to ensure all input handling mechanisms are properly secured, along with user education regarding suspicious links and behaviors that may indicate an active XSS attack.