CVE-2008-4893 in tribiq
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in templates/mytribiqsite/tribal-GPL-1066/includes/header.inc.php in Tribiq CMS 5.0.10a, when register_globals is enabled, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the template_path 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 • 10/31/2025
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within the Tribiq CMS 5.0.10a content management system, specifically in the header.inc.php file located within the mytribiqsite/tribal-GPL-1066 template directory. The flaw manifests when the PHP configuration parameter register_globals is enabled, creating a dangerous condition where user-supplied input can be directly incorporated into the application's output without proper sanitization. The vulnerability is triggered through manipulation of the template_path parameter, which allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content that will execute in the context of other users' browsers. This represents a classic stored XSS vulnerability where the malicious input is processed and stored within the application's template handling mechanism, making it persistent across multiple user sessions. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications. The security risk is significantly amplified by the combination of the vulnerable CMS version and the enabled register_globals setting, which eliminates crucial input validation layers that would normally prevent such injection attacks. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can execute arbitrary code in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further compromise of the affected system. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative privileges are involved.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires the attacker to craft malicious input for the template_path parameter that gets processed through the vulnerable header.inc.php file. When register_globals is enabled, PHP automatically creates global variables from HTTP request data, including GET, POST, and COOKIE parameters, which are then accessible throughout the script execution context. This creates a direct pathway for attackers to inject malicious payloads that bypass normal input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability's persistence stems from the fact that the injected content is stored within the CMS template system and will be executed every time the affected page is rendered for any user. This makes the attack particularly insidious as it can affect multiple users without requiring repeated exploitation attempts. The configuration dependency on register_globals being enabled is crucial because it represents a deprecated PHP security feature that should never be used in production environments due to its inherent vulnerabilities. Security researchers have long advised against using register_globals due to its dangerous behavior of automatically creating global variables from user input, which fundamentally undermines application security boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data corruption or display issues. Successful exploitation can lead to complete session compromise where attackers gain unauthorized access to user accounts, potentially including administrative privileges within the CMS. The injected scripts can harvest cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions that appear to originate from legitimate users, making attribution difficult and enabling sophisticated social engineering attacks. Organizations running this vulnerable CMS version face significant risk of data breaches, content tampering, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability also impacts the integrity of the entire website as attackers can modify content, inject advertisements, or redirect traffic to phishing sites. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability could result in violations of data protection regulations and security standards such as those outlined in iso/iec 27001 and pci dss. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal skill to exploit and can be automated, making it attractive to both script kiddies and sophisticated attackers. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used CMS platform means that attackers can leverage automated scanning tools to identify and exploit multiple targets simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate security issue and the underlying configuration problems. The primary recommendation is to disable register_globals in the PHP configuration, which is a critical step that should be implemented immediately regardless of the vulnerability status. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application to prevent XSS attacks from occurring in the first place. Web application firewalls can provide additional protection by filtering suspicious input patterns and detecting known attack signatures. The CMS should be upgraded to a supported version that addresses this vulnerability, as version 5.0.10a is outdated and likely contains additional unpatched security issues. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application stack. Input sanitization should be implemented at multiple layers including application-level validation, parameterized queries, and proper HTML escaping for dynamic content. Security awareness training for developers should emphasize the importance of secure coding practices and the dangers of deprecated PHP configurations. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions can help detect and respond to exploitation attempts, while incident response procedures should be established to handle successful breach scenarios. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping CMS platforms updated and following security best practices such as implementing the principle of least privilege and maintaining comprehensive backup procedures.