CVE-2008-5961 in Tribiq
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in Tribiq CMS Community 5.0.10B and 5.0.11E allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the cID parameter in a document action. 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 • 10/26/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5961 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Tribiq CMS Community version 5.0.10B and 5.0.11E systems. This security weakness specifically targets the index.php file and manifests through improper input validation mechanisms that fail to adequately sanitize user-supplied data. The vulnerability occurs when the cID parameter is processed during document action operations, creating an exploitable vector that enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code into the application's response. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it allows remote code execution capabilities through web-based malicious payloads that can be delivered via crafted URLs containing the vulnerable parameter.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. This classification indicates that the application fails to properly validate or escape user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. The flaw stems from inadequate sanitization of the cID parameter, which is processed without sufficient encoding or filtering mechanisms. Attackers can leverage this weakness by constructing malicious URLs that contain script tags or other HTML content within the cID parameter, which then gets executed in the context of other users' browsers when they access the affected page. This behavior creates a persistent threat vector that can be used to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the capability to establish persistent footholds within the targeted environment. When users interact with maliciously crafted links containing the vulnerable parameter, their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or data exfiltration. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that serve a broad user base. Additionally, the vulnerability affects specific versions of the Tribiq CMS Community platform, indicating that organizations running these outdated versions face significant risk without proper mitigation measures in place.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5961 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to address the root cause of the vulnerability. Organizations must implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious content from being executed within the application context. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures by restricting script execution and preventing unauthorized code injection. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the application codebase, particularly focusing on parameter handling and input sanitization routines. Furthermore, implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help monitor for suspicious traffic patterns associated with XSS attack attempts, while user education and awareness programs can help prevent accidental exploitation through social engineering vectors that may leverage this vulnerability.