CVE-2008-5761 in FlatnuX
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in FlatnuX CMS (aka Flatnuke3) 2008-12-11 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the mod parameter to the default URI; (2) the foto parameter to photo.php in the 05_Foto module; or (3) the name parameter in an insertrecord action to index.php in the 08_Files module, as demonstrated by injection within a SRC attribute of an IFRAME element.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
The CVE-2008-5761 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting FlatnuX CMS version 2008-12-11, specifically targeting the 05_Foto and 08_Files modules. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the content management system, creating exploitable entry points for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code into the application's response. The flaw manifests through three distinct attack vectors that collectively demonstrate the severity of the issue. The first vector involves the mod parameter in the default URI, the second targets the foto parameter within the photo.php file of the 05_Foto module, and the third exploits the name parameter during insertrecord actions in the index.php file of the 08_Files module. These attack surfaces allow remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized data manipulation. The vulnerability specifically enables injection within the SRC attribute of an IFRAME element, which represents a particularly dangerous execution method as it allows for the loading of malicious content from external domains. This type of attack aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as the improper handling of input data that is directly reflected back to users without adequate sanitization. The security implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to leverage the victim's authenticated session to perform unauthorized actions within the CMS environment. The attack vector demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the application's input handling mechanisms, where user-supplied parameters are not properly validated or escaped before being incorporated into dynamic web content.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-5761 is significant for organizations utilizing FlatnuX CMS, as successful exploitation can result in complete compromise of user sessions and potential unauthorized access to administrative functions. Attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to establish persistent backdoors, steal sensitive information, or manipulate content within the CMS. The three distinct attack vectors provide multiple opportunities for exploitation, increasing the likelihood of successful compromise and reducing the effectiveness of traditional perimeter-based security controls. The vulnerability's ability to inject malicious IFRAME elements specifically targets browser security models, potentially bypassing standard security measures such as content security policies that might otherwise prevent script execution. This weakness in input validation represents a classic application-level security failure that violates fundamental security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, particularly focusing on injection flaws and broken authentication. The attack can be executed remotely without requiring any special privileges or access to the system's underlying infrastructure, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that rely on user input for dynamic content generation. The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering tactics targeting web applications, where malicious code injection serves as the primary method for establishing initial access.
Organizations affected by CVE-2008-5761 should implement immediate mitigations including comprehensive input validation and sanitization across all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in dynamic content generation. The implementation of proper output encoding mechanisms is essential to prevent malicious code from being executed within the browser context, with special attention to the mod, foto, and name parameters identified in the vulnerability. Security patches should be applied immediately to address the root cause of the vulnerability, as the affected CMS version is no longer supported and lacks modern security features. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious input patterns, while conducting thorough security assessments to identify additional potential vulnerabilities in the application's codebase. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security, where all user-supplied data should be treated as potentially malicious. Additionally, regular security monitoring and intrusion detection systems should be deployed to identify potential exploitation attempts, while user education regarding the risks of clicking on suspicious links or visiting untrusted websites becomes essential for overall security posture. The remediation process should include comprehensive code review to identify similar patterns of insecure input handling that may exist in other parts of the application, ensuring that the vulnerability is not merely patched in one location but that the underlying architectural weakness is addressed throughout the codebase.