CVE-2008-4438 in Datafeed Studio
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in search.php in Datafeed Studio 1.6.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the q 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 • 05/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4438 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Datafeed Studio 1.6.2 web application. This security weakness specifically affects the search.php script and manifests through improper input validation mechanisms that fail to sanitize user-supplied data before processing. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 which defines the weakness as the failure to sanitize input data, creating opportunities for malicious actors to inject executable code into web applications. The affected parameter q serves as the primary injection vector, allowing remote attackers to submit malicious payloads that persist within the application's search functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's inadequate handling of user input within the search functionality. When users submit search queries through the q parameter, the Datafeed Studio application processes this input without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms. This oversight creates a condition where attackers can embed malicious javascript code, html tags, or other executable content within the search parameter. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by any remote user with access to the vulnerable web interface. According to ATT&CK framework, this represents a technique categorized under T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, demonstrating how attackers can leverage XSS to execute arbitrary code in the victim's browser context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. Attackers can exploit this weakness to hijack user sessions, redirect victims to malicious websites, or harvest sensitive information from authenticated sessions. The persistent nature of reflected XSS vulnerabilities means that malicious payloads can be stored and executed whenever the vulnerable page is accessed, potentially affecting multiple users over extended periods. In enterprise environments, this vulnerability could compromise the integrity of datafeed operations, particularly if the application handles sensitive commercial or customer data. The vulnerability's remote exploitability eliminates the need for physical access or network proximity, making it a significant threat vector for attackers seeking to compromise web applications. Organizations using Datafeed Studio 1.6.2 face potential exposure to credential theft, session hijacking, and data exfiltration attacks that could severely impact their operational security posture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-4438 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding before processing or displaying content. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks. The application should also employ proper parameter validation to reject or sanitize any input containing potentially malicious patterns. Organizations should consider upgrading to newer versions of Datafeed Studio that address this vulnerability, as the 1.6.2 version is likely to contain other unpatched security issues. Security teams should also implement web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious input patterns targeting XSS vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application's codebase, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar attack vectors. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation in web applications and demonstrates how seemingly simple flaws can create significant security risks when exploited by malicious actors.