CVE-2008-6164 in HostAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in DreamCost HostAdmin 3.1.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the page parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2025
The CVE-2008-6164 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the DreamCost HostAdmin 3.1.1 web application, specifically within the index.php script. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user-supplied input through the page parameter, creating a significant security risk for web applications that fail to properly sanitize or validate incoming data. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize input, making it a direct descendant of improper input validation practices that have plagued web applications for decades.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when the index.php script processes the page parameter without adequate sanitization measures. When an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script tags or HTML content within the page parameter, the application fails to properly escape or filter this input before rendering it in the web response. This allows the injected code to execute within the context of other users' browsers, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple sessions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the web interface's input processing mechanisms and rendering capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that leverage the compromised session context. Attackers can exploit this flaw to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject malicious content that persists across user interactions. The vulnerability affects any user who accesses the affected DreamCost HostAdmin application, potentially compromising the entire administrative interface and exposing sensitive hosting information. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-6164 must focus on input validation and output encoding practices that align with established security frameworks. Implementing proper parameter sanitization through input filtering and output encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding can effectively neutralize the XSS threat. Organizations should deploy web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, while also ensuring that all user-supplied input undergoes rigorous validation before being processed or rendered. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to security standards such as those defined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for web application security. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar flaws in legacy applications and ensure proper patch management processes are in place to address such vulnerabilities promptly.