CVE-2008-4083 in Brim
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Bookmarks plugin in Brim 2.0 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the name parameter in an addItemPost action to index.php. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2024
The CVE-2008-4083 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Bookmarks plugin of Brim 2.0, a web application framework that was widely used for content management and user interaction. This vulnerability specifically targets the authentication mechanisms of the system, allowing attackers who have already gained valid user credentials to exploit the weakness through a carefully crafted malicious input. The vulnerability resides in the processing of user-supplied data within the addItemPost action of the index.php file, which serves as the primary entry point for bookmark management functionality. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and output sanitization, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be executed within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the name parameter, which is processed by the Bookmarks plugin without adequate security measures. When an authenticated user performs an addItemPost action with malicious content in the name parameter, the application fails to properly escape or validate the input before storing or displaying it. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code that gets executed whenever other users view the bookmark entry. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the context of authenticated sessions, meaning that attackers can leverage legitimate user privileges to carry out their malicious activities. The flaw falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to potentially hijack user sessions, redirect victims to malicious sites, or extract sensitive information from authenticated sessions. An attacker with access to a valid user account can systematically inject scripts that persistently affect other users who interact with the compromised bookmark entries. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require special privileges beyond authentication, making it particularly concerning for environments where multiple users have access to the application. Organizations using Brim 2.0 were at risk of having their users' browsers compromised, potentially leading to broader security incidents including credential theft, session hijacking, and data exfiltration. The persistence of the vulnerability in the application's core functionality means that any user who views affected bookmark entries becomes a potential victim of the injected malicious code.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Bookmarks plugin. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly parameters like name, before processing or storing them in the application database. Security measures should include implementing Content Security Policy headers, escaping HTML characters in output rendering, and employing proper parameter validation techniques to prevent malicious code injection. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, while regular security audits of third-party plugins and components can help identify similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing proper access controls can significantly reduce the attack surface for such vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include thorough testing of input validation mechanisms to ensure that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being processed or displayed within the application interface.