CVE-2008-5917 in Application Framework
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the XSS filter (framework/Text_Filter/Filter/xss.php) in Horde Application Framework 3.2.2 and 3.3, when Internet Explorer is being used, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unknown vectors related to style attributes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2019
The CVE-2008-5917 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Horde Application Framework version 3.2.2 and 3.3, specifically targeting the XSS filter implementation located in framework/Text_Filter/Filter/xss.php. This vulnerability exploits a weakness in the framework's security mechanisms that are designed to prevent malicious script injection attacks. The flaw manifests when the framework processes user input through Internet Explorer browsers, creating a specific attack vector that bypasses the intended security protections. The vulnerability's classification as a CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting) indicates it enables attackers to inject malicious client-side scripts into web applications that users may inadvertently execute.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the XSS filter's inadequate handling of style attributes within HTML content when processed through Internet Explorer. The filter fails to properly sanitize or validate style properties that contain potentially malicious JavaScript code, allowing attackers to embed script payloads within CSS style declarations. This particular weakness exploits the browser-specific behavior of Internet Explorer where certain style attribute parsing can be manipulated to execute malicious code. The vulnerability operates through unknown vectors that suggest either a sophisticated bypass mechanism or an incomplete understanding of how Internet Explorer processes style attributes in the context of the filter's validation logic.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML content within the context of authenticated users' browsers. When exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, deface web applications, or redirect users to malicious websites. The attack requires no special privileges and can be executed through standard web browser interactions, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users interact with web applications that utilize the affected Horde framework. The vulnerability affects any application using the affected framework version, potentially compromising thousands of websites that depend on Horde's text filtering capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5917 should focus on immediate framework updates to versions that address the XSS filter implementation weaknesses. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms that properly sanitize all user-provided content, particularly style attributes and CSS declarations. The implementation of Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide additional protection layers against script injection attacks, while regular security audits should verify that all text filtering components properly handle browser-specific edge cases. Security teams should also consider implementing Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with custom rules designed to detect and block suspicious style attribute patterns that may indicate XSS attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) and demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization in preventing client-side exploitation.