CVE-2008-4737 in WhoDomLite
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in wholite.cgi in WhoDomLite 1.1.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the dom parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4737 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the WhoDomLite 1.1.3 web application, specifically manifesting in the wholite.cgi script. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category, which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation as a security weakness. The flaw enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of a victim's browser session, creating significant security implications for users interacting with the affected application.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the dom parameter within the wholite.cgi script. When the application processes user input through this parameter without proper sanitization or validation, it directly incorporates the malicious payload into dynamically generated web content. This injection occurs in the server-side processing where user-supplied data is not adequately filtered or escaped before being rendered in the browser context. The vulnerability exists because the application fails to implement proper input validation mechanisms that would prevent potentially harmful script code from being executed within the web page's context.
The operational impact of this XSS vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious websites. An attacker could craft a malicious URL containing the XSS payload in the dom parameter, which when visited by an unsuspecting user would execute the attacker's code within that user's browser session. This creates a persistent threat where authenticated users could be compromised without their knowledge, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information or system resources.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the initial access and persistence phases, where attackers leverage web application vulnerabilities to establish footholds within target environments. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies including input validation, output encoding, and proper web application security controls. Organizations should implement comprehensive security measures such as web application firewalls, regular security assessments, and input sanitization protocols to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in production environments.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the wholite.cgi script. Developers should ensure that all user-supplied input is properly sanitized before being processed or rendered in web pages, implementing proper HTML entity encoding for any dynamic content. Additionally, the application should employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution contexts and prevent unauthorized code injection. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify and address similar vulnerabilities across the entire application stack, ensuring that the application follows secure coding practices and maintains robust defenses against common web application threats.