CVE-2008-5172 in Yazd Forum Software
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Yazd Forum Software 3.x allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) q parameter to (a) search.jsp, and the (2) msg parameter to (b) error.jsp and (c) userAccount.jsp. 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 • 12/05/2017
The CVE-2008-5172 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Yazd Forum Software version 3.x, specifically affecting the search.jsp, error.jsp, and userAccount.jsp components. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the forum software's web interface, creating exploitable entry points that permit malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content directly into the application's response streams. The vulnerability manifests through two distinct attack vectors that target different parameters within the software's web pages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic input sanitization failure where the software fails to properly escape or validate user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content. Attackers can exploit the q parameter in search.jsp to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers when they view search results. Similarly, the msg parameter in both error.jsp and userAccount.jsp provides additional attack surfaces where malicious payloads can be injected, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-5172 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it creates persistent security risks for forum users and administrators. When exploited, these vulnerabilities can enable attackers to establish persistent sessions within the forum environment, potentially gaining elevated privileges or accessing sensitive user data. The attack vectors affect multiple components of the forum software, increasing the probability of successful exploitation and providing attackers with multiple opportunities to compromise the system. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can be leveraged for advanced persistent threat operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate input validation and output encoding implementations across all user-facing parameters within the Yazd Forum Software. Security patches should enforce strict sanitization of all parameters including q and msg, implementing proper HTML entity encoding before rendering user input. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution, while also deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering through malicious web content, making comprehensive network monitoring essential. Additionally, regular security assessments and input validation reviews should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future releases, following secure coding practices that align with OWASP Top Ten security guidelines.