CVE-2008-4725 in Web Browser
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Opera.dll in Opera 9.52 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the query string, which is not properly escaped before storage in the History Search database (aka md.dat), a different vector than CVE-2008-4696. NOTE: some of these issues were addressed before 9.60.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-4725 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within Opera 9.52's Opera.dll component that enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code through the query string parameter. This particular vulnerability operates through a unique vector that differs from CVE-2008-4696, specifically targeting the History Search database file known as md.dat. The flaw occurs when user-supplied input from query strings is not properly escaped before being stored in the browser's history search database, creating a persistent XSS attack surface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the browser's handling of user input within the history search functionality. When users navigate to web pages with malicious query parameters, Opera fails to adequately sanitize these inputs before storing them in the md.dat database file. This database serves as the persistent storage mechanism for search history and navigation data, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to establish persistent malicious presence. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Opera browser's history management system, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute when the compromised history entries are accessed or displayed.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to user security and privacy. Attackers can leverage this flaw to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The persistent nature of the attack through the md.dat database means that even after users navigate away from the initial malicious page, the injected scripts remain embedded in their browser history and continue to execute upon subsequent access to the compromised search entries. This creates a long-term threat vector that can affect multiple users over extended periods.
The vulnerability demonstrates a clear weakness in the browser's input sanitization processes and highlights the importance of proper data validation at multiple points within web applications. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-79: Cross-site Scripting vulnerability where the flaw occurs in the data storage phase rather than the immediate execution context, making it particularly dangerous due to its persistence. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1566: Phishing and T1059: Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can use this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through seemingly legitimate web interactions. Organizations and users should prioritize updating to Opera versions 9.60 or later where these issues were addressed, and implement additional security measures such as web application firewalls and input validation controls to mitigate potential exploitation attempts.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires immediate browser updates to versions that properly address the input sanitization issues in Opera's history database handling. Security administrators should also implement comprehensive monitoring of browser history databases and user access patterns to detect potential malicious entries. Additionally, network-level security controls such as content filtering systems and intrusion detection mechanisms should be configured to identify and block suspicious query parameters that might indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Regular security assessments of browser components and their interaction with persistent storage mechanisms are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other browser implementations or web applications.