CVE-2008-4089 in myPHPNuke
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in print.php in myPHPNuke (MPN) before 1.8.8_8rc2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the sid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4089 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the myPHPNuke content management system, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.8.8_8rc2. This vulnerability resides in the print.php script and demonstrates a classic input validation weakness that enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw occurs when the system fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input received through the sid parameter, creating an avenue for persistent malicious code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or escaping. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads and injecting them through the sid parameter, which then gets processed by the print.php script and subsequently rendered in the victim's browser. This creates a persistent threat vector where legitimate users who access pages containing the malicious content will unknowingly execute the injected scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the compromised systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. When users navigate to affected pages, the malicious code executes in their browser context, which can result in various security breaches including but not limited to cookie theft, redirection to malicious sites, or even the execution of additional malicious payloads. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the web application and compromises user trust in the platform, as users may unknowingly interact with content that has been modified by attackers. The attack requires minimal technical expertise to exploit and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently access the system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-4089 should prioritize immediate patching of affected myPHPNuke installations to version 1.8.8_8rc2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to address the input validation issues. Organizations should also implement proper input sanitization measures including the use of parameterized queries, output encoding, and strict validation of all user-supplied input. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application stack. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for credential access, highlighting the potential for both code execution and information theft. Network monitoring and intrusion detection systems should be configured to detect suspicious parameter values in URL requests, particularly those containing script tags or common XSS payload patterns, to provide early warning of exploitation attempts.