CVE-2008-4184 in webCMS Portal Edition
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in webCMS Portal Edition allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the patron parameter. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-4184 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the webCMS Portal Edition software, specifically affecting the index.php script. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of injection attacks that exploit the improper handling of user-supplied input within web applications. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize or validate the patron parameter, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content directly into the application's response. The vulnerability's classification as a remote attack vector means that threat actors can exploit this weakness without requiring physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the webCMS Portal Edition's index.php file. When the application processes the patron parameter without proper sanitization, it directly incorporates user-supplied data into the HTTP response sent to the victim's browser. This creates an environment where malicious code can execute in the context of the victim's session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or the redirection of users to malicious websites. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects a core portal component, potentially compromising the entire web application's security posture and the data integrity of all users interacting with the system.
The operational implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple data theft, encompassing broader security risks that can compromise user trust and organizational reputation. Attackers exploiting this flaw can manipulate the web application's behavior to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users, potentially accessing sensitive information or modifying content within the portal. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with the tactics described in the attack pattern taxonomy, where adversaries leverage web application weaknesses to establish persistent access or conduct more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability's presence in a portal edition system suggests that it could affect multiple users simultaneously, potentially creating a scalable attack vector that impacts the entire user base of the web application.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the webCMS Portal Edition. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper parameter validation and encoding techniques, ensuring that any potentially malicious content is neutralized before being processed or displayed. Organizations should implement content security policies and utilize proper HTML escaping mechanisms to prevent script execution in response contexts. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application's codebase. The remediation efforts should align with established security frameworks such as the CWE classification system, specifically addressing CWE-79 which covers Cross-site Scripting vulnerabilities, and should incorporate defensive programming practices that prevent the injection of untrusted data into web application responses.