CVE-2008-5757 in Textpattern
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in textarea/index.php in Textpattern (aka Txp CMS) 4.0.6 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Body parameter in an article action. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2018
The CVE-2008-5757 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Textpattern Content Management System version 4.0.6 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the textarea/index.php component of the CMS, creating a dangerous attack vector that allows authenticated users to execute malicious code within the context of other users' browsers. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly filter user-supplied data before rendering it within web pages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the Body parameter in article actions, where user input is directly incorporated into HTML output without proper sanitization. When an authenticated attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or HTML elements within the Body field, the CMS fails to neutralize these potentially harmful elements during processing. This creates an environment where the injected code executes in the browsers of other users who view the affected content, making it a classic persistent cross-site scripting vulnerability. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authentication to exploit, meaning that insiders or compromised accounts can leverage this flaw effectively.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-5757 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. Attackers can use this vulnerability to hijack user sessions, redirect visitors to malicious sites, steal cookies and authentication tokens, or even perform actions on behalf of authenticated users within the CMS. The persistent nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, malicious content remains embedded in the system and continues to affect users until manually removed. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users access the CMS, as the attack surface expands exponentially with each authenticated user.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate output encoding, both of which are fundamental requirements in secure coding standards. The attack pattern follows typical ATT&CK techniques for web application exploitation, specifically targeting the web application layer where user input is processed and rendered. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigation strategies including input sanitization, output encoding, and comprehensive security audits of their CMS components. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping CMS platforms updated, as newer versions of Textpattern would have addressed these security gaps through improved sanitization mechanisms and better validation controls.