CVE-2008-4648 in Elxis
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in Elxis CMS 2008.1 revision 2204 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) PATH_INFO or the (2) option, (3) Itemid, (4) id, (5) task, (6) bid, and (7) contact_id parameters. NOTE: the error might be located in modules/mod_language.php, and index.php might be the interaction point.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2025
The CVE-2008-4648 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Elxis Content Management System version 2008.1 revision 2204, demonstrating a fundamental failure in input validation and output sanitization that exposes web applications to malicious script injection attacks. This vulnerability specifically targets the index.php file which serves as the primary entry point for the CMS, making it a high-value target for attackers seeking to compromise user sessions and execute unauthorized code within the context of legitimate users. The vulnerability's exploitation occurs through multiple parameter injection points including PATH_INFO, option, Itemid, id, task, bid, and contact_id, indicating a systemic weakness in the application's parameter handling mechanisms that extends beyond simple input validation failures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the CMS's inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input parameters before they are processed and rendered in web responses. When attackers manipulate any of the seven identified parameters through URL manipulation or form submissions, the application fails to properly escape or validate these inputs before incorporating them into dynamic web content. This allows malicious scripts to be injected directly into the application's output streams, where they execute in the context of the victim's browser session. The vulnerability's location in modules/mod_language.php suggests that the issue may originate from language switching functionality or module parameter handling, but the actual exploitation point remains in the main index.php file which acts as the central processing hub for all CMS requests. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-79: Cross-site Scripting vulnerability, specifically manifesting as a reflected XSS attack where malicious payloads are reflected back to users through the application's response.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the capability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive authentication tokens, and potentially escalate privileges within the CMS. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by unsuspecting users, execute scripts that capture cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or even modify content within the CMS. The multi-parameter nature of this vulnerability increases the attack surface significantly, as different combinations of parameters may bypass certain security controls or exploit different code paths within the application. The vulnerability's presence in the core CMS components makes it particularly dangerous, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain administrative access or manipulate the entire content management infrastructure. This aligns with ATT&CK framework techniques such as T1566 (Phishing) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) where attackers leverage XSS vulnerabilities to establish persistent access and execute malicious commands within user contexts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-4648 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all user-supplied parameters. Organizations must ensure that all parameters including PATH_INFO, option, Itemid, id, task, bid, and contact_id are properly sanitized before being processed or rendered in web responses. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while regular security audits should validate that all CMS components properly escape output to prevent XSS vulnerabilities. Security patches should be applied immediately upon availability, and the CMS should be updated to newer versions that address these fundamental input validation issues. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious parameter patterns can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of thorough input validation in web applications, particularly in content management systems that handle user-generated content and dynamic parameters.