CVE-2008-4802 in blog
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in complete.php in Simple PHP Scripts blog 0.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the id parameter. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4802 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Simple PHP Scripts blog version 0.3 application. This security weakness resides in the complete.php script where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered back to web browsers. The specific parameter targeted is the 'id' parameter, which serves as an entry point for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's output. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that has been consistently documented in industry security frameworks.
The operational impact of this XSS vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. Attackers can exploit this flaw to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows remote attackers to inject content without requiring any authentication or privileged access to the system. When users visit pages that utilize the vulnerable complete.php script with manipulated id parameters, their browsers will execute the injected scripts, creating a persistent threat that affects all users who interact with the compromised application.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 - Run-time Application Masking, as it enables attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through script injection. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate output encoding mechanisms that are commonly exploited in web application attacks. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability was present in a relatively old version of the Simple PHP Scripts blog, indicating a lack of proper security testing and input sanitization during the development lifecycle. The vulnerability's classification as remote and unauthenticated makes it particularly dangerous in environments where the application is publicly accessible and used by multiple users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-provided input before processing or displaying it within web pages, specifically ensuring that the 'id' parameter in complete.php undergoes proper validation and encoding. Developers should implement strict whitelisting of acceptable input values or employ proper HTML escaping techniques when rendering user data. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. Organizations should also consider regular security audits and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in legacy applications, as this particular flaw demonstrates the importance of maintaining security hygiene throughout the application lifecycle. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for secure coding practices and proper input validation as outlined in OWASP Top Ten security guidelines and the importance of addressing such issues through comprehensive security awareness training for development teams.