CVE-2008-4333 in PHP infoBoard
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in PHP infoBoard V.7 Plus allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the isname parameter in a newtopic action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2024
The CVE-2008-4333 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the PHP infoBoard V.7 Plus web application, demonstrating how insufficient input validation can lead to severe security implications. This vulnerability specifically affects the newtopic action within the application's functionality, where the isname parameter fails to properly sanitize user input before processing. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code directly into the application's response, creating a persistent vector for malicious activity. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited without requiring any special privileges or authentication from the attacker, making them highly attractive targets for threat actors seeking to compromise user sessions or execute unauthorized commands.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. This classification indicates that the application fails to properly validate or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages. The isname parameter in the newtopic action serves as the attack vector where unfiltered input flows directly into the application's output, creating an environment where malicious scripts can execute within the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of injection flaws, where the application's failure to properly handle user input creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the application's behavior and potentially access sensitive information or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface web pages, steal cookies, or redirect users to malicious sites. When users interact with the vulnerable application, any malicious code injected through the isname parameter executes in their browser context, potentially compromising their session data and personal information. The vulnerability affects all users of the PHP infoBoard V.7 Plus application who are logged in or browsing the affected pages, creating a widespread security risk that can persist until the underlying flaw is addressed. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that appear legitimate to end users, making detection and prevention particularly challenging in environments where such vulnerabilities remain unpatched.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding techniques to prevent malicious data from being processed or displayed. The most effective remediation involves sanitizing all user input through proper escaping mechanisms before incorporating it into web page content, particularly for parameters like isname that are used in dynamic page generation. Security practitioners should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection, while also ensuring that the application follows secure coding practices such as those recommended by the OWASP Top Ten project. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, as this type of flaw often indicates broader input validation issues that may affect multiple areas of the application. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping web applications updated with the latest security patches and implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools to detect similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors.