CVE-2008-6168 in miniPortail
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in search.php in miniPortail 2.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via an unspecified argument, probably the search string.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2024
The CVE-2008-6168 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the miniPortail content management system version 2.2 and earlier. This vulnerability exists within the search.php script which processes user input without proper sanitization or output encoding, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically targets an unspecified argument within the search functionality, most likely the search string parameter that users submit when performing searches within the application interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw where untrusted data is embedded into web pages viewed by other users. The flaw occurs because the application fails to properly validate and sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. When a user submits a search query containing malicious script code, the application processes this input and reflects it back to other users who view the search results page, thereby executing the injected code in their browser context. This type of vulnerability enables attackers to perform session hijacking, deface websites, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious sites.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-6168 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with persistent access to user sessions and potentially administrative privileges if the vulnerable application is used by privileged users. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the miniPortail system, compromising the integrity and confidentiality of user interactions. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute various malicious activities including credential theft through form grabbing, cookie manipulation, and browser-based attacks that exploit the trust relationship between the victim user and the compromised application. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where users have elevated privileges or where the application handles sensitive data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper validation techniques and implementing context-appropriate output encoding before rendering any user-provided content. Organizations should apply the vendor-supplied patch or upgrade to a non-vulnerable version of miniPortail as soon as possible. Additionally, implementing a web application firewall that can detect and block XSS attack patterns provides an additional layer of protection. Security monitoring should include regular vulnerability scanning and code review processes to identify similar flaws in other application components. The remediation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which focuses on the initial access phase of attacks through malicious web content, emphasizing the importance of proper input handling and output encoding as defensive measures against such threats.