CVE-2008-4742 in TimeTrex
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in interface/Login.php in TimeTrex 2.2.11 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) password and (2) user_name parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4742 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in TimeTrex version 2.2.11's authentication interface. This vulnerability exists within the Login.php file and affects the application's ability to properly sanitize user input, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of authenticated sessions. The flaw specifically targets two input parameters: password and user_name, which are processed without adequate validation or sanitization mechanisms. This weakness falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical web application vulnerability that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or filter user-supplied input before rendering it back to the browser. When attackers submit malicious payloads through the password and user_name parameters, the system does not adequately sanitize these inputs, allowing HTML tags and JavaScript code to be executed within the victim's browser context. This creates a persistent threat where any user who logs into the compromised system could be exposed to malicious scripts that could steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform unauthorized actions on behalf of the victim. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users access the same system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to complete session hijacking and unauthorized access to sensitive time tracking data. Attackers could craft malicious login attempts that, when processed by the vulnerable system, would execute their payloads in the browser of any user who views the login page or interacts with the application. This creates a persistent threat vector where compromised sessions could be used to manipulate time records, access payroll information, or gain elevated privileges within the system. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531, which involves using malicious credentials to gain access to systems, as the XSS could be leveraged to capture authentication tokens or redirect users to attacker-controlled sites.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term prevention measures. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Login.php file, ensuring that all user-supplied data is sanitized before being processed or displayed. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts, while also implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, particularly in authentication and user management modules. Additionally, the system should be updated to a patched version of TimeTrex that addresses this specific vulnerability, as the original version 2.2.11 is no longer supported and contains multiple other security weaknesses that compound the risk of exploitation.