CVE-2008-6212 in Php-Stats
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in admin.php in Php-Stats 0.1.9.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) sel_mese and (2) sel_anno parameters in a systems 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 • 09/13/2025
The CVE-2008-6212 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the Php-Stats 0.1.9.1 web application administration interface. This vulnerability exists within the admin.php script where user input parameters are not properly sanitized before being rendered back to the browser. The specific attack vectors involve the sel_mese and sel_anno parameters that are processed during system operations, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's administrative interface.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The attack occurs when the application fails to validate or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated HTML content. The affected parameters sel_mese and sel_anno are likely used for date filtering or system monitoring purposes within the administrative dashboard, making them prime targets for exploitation. When these parameters contain malicious script code, the application renders this content without proper sanitization, allowing the injected code to execute in the context of other users' browsers who access the compromised administrative interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to steal administrator sessions, modify system configurations, or even escalate privileges within the application. The fact that this vulnerability affects the administrative interface makes it particularly dangerous as it could provide attackers with full control over the Php-Stats application and potentially the underlying system if proper access controls are not in place. The vulnerability's exposure through the systems action parameter suggests that it could be triggered during routine administrative operations, making detection more difficult and increasing the window of opportunity for exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user inputs through proper escaping techniques before rendering them in HTML contexts, which aligns with the OWASP Secure Coding practices. The application should implement strict parameter validation for sel_mese and sel_anno inputs, ensuring that only expected data formats are accepted. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future versions. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to established security frameworks such as those defined by the Open Web Application Security Project and the Center for Internet Security. Organizations using Php-Stats should immediately apply available patches or upgrade to newer versions that address this specific XSS vulnerability, as the risk of exploitation remains high given the nature of the flaw and the prevalence of such attacks in web applications.