CVE-2008-4139 in Quick.Cms.Lite
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in admin.php in OpenSolution Quick.Cms.Lite 2.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the query string.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2025
The CVE-2008-4139 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in OpenSolution Quick.Cms.Lite version 2.1 within the admin.php file. This vulnerability specifically targets the application's handling of query string parameters, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated admin sessions. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before processing or rendering within the web application's administrative interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the admin.php script processes URL parameters without adequate sanitization measures. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script tags or other HTML content in the query string parameters, which are then executed when the administrative interface renders the page. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly handled during web page generation. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic weakness in the application's data flow where user input traverses from the request parameters through the application logic to the output rendering without proper security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted within the context of content management systems. An attacker who successfully exploits this flaw could gain unauthorized access to administrative functions, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability enables various attack vectors including session hijacking, data theft, defacement of web content, and privilege escalation attacks. From an attacker's perspective, this represents a low-effort, high-impact vulnerability that can be exploited through simple web browser manipulation without requiring specialized tools or deep technical knowledge. The attack lifecycle follows typical patterns associated with XSS exploitation as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where malicious scripts can be executed to manipulate the victim's browser session.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary fix involves implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase, particularly focusing on the admin.php file and all administrative endpoints. Developers should employ proper HTML escaping techniques for all user-supplied content before rendering it within web pages, utilizing established libraries or frameworks that provide built-in sanitization functions. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts even if the primary vulnerability is not fully patched. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious query string patterns, while conducting regular security audits to identify similar input validation weaknesses across the entire application stack. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to OWASP Top Ten security guidelines for preventing injection flaws in web applications.