CVE-2008-4076 in Tor Board
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in (1) Tor World Tor Board 1.3 and earlier, (2) Topics BBS 1.11 and earlier, (3) Simple BBS 1.86 and earlier, and (4) Interactive BBS 1.57 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, a different issue than CVE-2008-0917.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2017
The CVE-2008-4076 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting multiple bulletin board systems including Tor World Tor Board 1.3, Topics BBS 1.11, Simple BBS 1.86, and Interactive BBS 1.57. This 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 malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability specifically impacts web applications that fail to properly sanitize user input before rendering it in web responses, creating an avenue for malicious code execution in the context of the victim's browser session.
The technical flaw manifests through unspecified vectors within these bulletin board systems, indicating that the vulnerability exists in how these applications handle user-supplied data in various input fields, form submissions, or URL parameters. These BBS platforms, which were widely used for online community forums and discussion platforms, failed to implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that would be executed when other users viewed affected pages, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability differs from CVE-2008-0917, suggesting that while both involve XSS flaws, they affect different components or implementation patterns within the software ecosystem.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-4076 extends beyond simple script injection, as these bulletin board systems typically serve as hubs for user-generated content and community interaction. When exploited, the vulnerability could allow attackers to manipulate forum content, steal user sessions, or redirect visitors to phishing sites that appear legitimate. The affected applications likely processed user posts, usernames, or forum titles without adequate sanitization, creating persistent XSS vulnerabilities that could remain undetected for extended periods. Given that these BBS platforms were commonly used for sensitive discussions and information sharing, the potential for data compromise and reputation damage was significant. The vulnerability's presence in multiple software variants indicates a systemic issue in how these legacy applications handled user input validation, making it particularly dangerous for organizations still maintaining older BBS installations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-4076 must focus on immediate remediation through input validation and output encoding implementations. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to patched versions of the affected software or implementing proper HTML escaping for all user-supplied content before rendering it in web responses. The solution aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for legitimate code execution and T1566 for credential access through social engineering, as the vulnerability enables attackers to craft malicious payloads that can harvest user credentials or redirect them to attacker-controlled sites. Security measures should include implementing Content Security Policy headers, conducting regular input validation audits, and establishing secure coding practices that prevent XSS vulnerabilities through proper data sanitization. Additionally, organizations should perform comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their legacy systems to identify similar weaknesses and ensure that all user-generated content is properly sanitized before being displayed to other users, thereby preventing exploitation of this and related cross-site scripting vulnerabilities.