CVE-2008-4891 in signme
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in signme.inc.php in Planetluc SignMe 1.5 before 1.55 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the hash parameter. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2018
The CVE-2008-4891 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the Planetluc SignMe 1.5 web application, specifically within the signme.inc.php component. This vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 which defines improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a fundamental web application security weakness that has plagued software development for decades. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input parameters, particularly the hash parameter, which flows directly into the web page output without proper validation or encoding mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that, when executed, can compromise user sessions and perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a specially crafted hash parameter containing malicious script code to the signme.inc.php script. The application fails to properly escape or validate this input before rendering it in the web page context, allowing the injected JavaScript code to execute within the victim's browser session. This creates a persistent threat vector where attackers can manipulate the application's behavior, steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform other harmful actions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the client-side execution level, meaning that once a user interacts with the malicious link or page, the attacker's code executes in the user's browser with the privileges of that user's session. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as it can enable more sophisticated attacks such as session hijacking, credential theft, or even browser-based malware delivery.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for any organization using Planetluc SignMe 1.5 version 1.5 or earlier, as it creates a persistent security risk that can affect all users of the application. Users who visit pages containing the malicious hash parameter become unwitting participants in the attack, potentially leading to compromised accounts and unauthorized access to sensitive data. The vulnerability also affects the application's integrity and trustworthiness, as users may lose confidence in the system's ability to protect their information. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability could lead to violations of data protection regulations and security standards such as those outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework or ISO 27001 requirements for secure application development. Organizations may face regulatory penalties and reputational damage if they fail to address this vulnerability promptly, especially in environments where user data protection is paramount.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-4891 should focus on immediate remediation through input validation and output encoding practices. The most effective solution involves implementing proper parameter sanitization where all user-supplied input, particularly the hash parameter, is validated against expected formats and encoded before being rendered in the web page context. This approach aligns with the OWASP Top Ten recommendations for preventing XSS vulnerabilities and follows the principle of least privilege in input handling. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to add an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks. The recommended fix includes updating to Planetluc SignMe version 1.55 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar input validation issues in other components of the application. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts, while ensuring that all developers follow secure coding practices and adhere to established security frameworks such as those defined by the MITRE ATT&CK framework for web application security.