CVE-2008-5979 in Mailing List Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in default.asp in Ocean12 Mailing List Manager Gold allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Email parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2024
The CVE-2008-5979 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the Ocean12 Mailing List Manager Gold application, specifically within the default.asp component. This security weakness enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code through manipulation of the Email parameter, fundamentally compromising the application's input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied data before it is processed and rendered back to users within the web interface.
This particular XSS vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-79, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The flaw exists because the application fails to properly encode or escape special characters in the Email parameter before incorporating it into dynamically generated HTML content. When users interact with the mailing list manager, the malicious payload injected through the Email field gets executed in the context of other users' browsers, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. An attacker could craft a malicious email address containing JavaScript code that, when processed by the application, would execute in the browser of any user who views the affected page. This creates a significant risk for organizations using the mailing list manager, particularly those handling sensitive communications or user data. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the web application by allowing unauthorized code execution in user contexts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5979 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding practices. Organizations should employ proper HTML entity encoding for all user-supplied data before rendering it within web pages, ensuring that special characters are properly escaped to prevent interpretation as executable code. The application should also implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in input handling mechanisms. The remediation process aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which addresses social engineering through malicious web content delivery, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in phishing and targeted attack scenarios. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and input sanitization libraries to provide additional layers of protection against such injection attacks.