CVE-2008-4446 in Nucleus
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Nucleus EUC-JP 3.31 SP1 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/10/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4446 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Nucleus EUC-JP version 3.31 SP1 and earlier implementations. This security weakness enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected web applications, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's processing pipeline, creating an attack surface where malicious payloads can be injected and subsequently executed by unsuspecting users.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities through improper neutralization of input data. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it within web pages, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the victim's browser context. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple entry points within the application's codebase may be susceptible to this type of injection attack, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could be exploited through various communication channels or data submission methods.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to encompass potential session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. When users interact with compromised web pages, their browsers execute the injected malicious code, which could redirect them to phishing sites, steal cookies and session tokens, or modify page content to deceive users. The attack vector's remote nature means that exploitation does not require physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that handle sensitive user information or business-critical data. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.001 category for command and scripting interpreter, specifically focusing on the execution of malicious code through web-based interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-4446 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Nucleus EUC-JP installations to the latest available versions that contain proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization routines that validate and escape all user-supplied data before processing, utilizing established security libraries and frameworks designed to prevent XSS attacks. Additionally, deploying web application firewalls and implementing proper content security policies can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other application components, while user education about suspicious website behavior remains crucial for overall security posture. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust security practices throughout the application development lifecycle to prevent such critical flaws from being introduced into production systems.