CVE-2008-6351 in Local Classifieds
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in listtest.php in TurnkeyForms Local Classifieds allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the r parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The CVE-2008-6351 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the TurnkeyForms Local Classifieds application, specifically affecting the listtest.php script. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user-supplied input through the r parameter, creating a persistent vector for malicious code injection that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. The flaw operates by failing to properly sanitize or escape user-provided data before incorporating it into dynamic web content, thereby enabling attackers to execute arbitrary scripts within the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a well-documented and widely recognized security weakness in web applications.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability allows remote attackers to craft malicious payloads that exploit the lack of input validation in the r parameter of the listtest.php endpoint. When a victim accesses a page that includes the malicious input, the browser executes the injected script code as if it were legitimate content from the trusted application. This can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, or the redirection of users to malicious websites. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged to create more sophisticated attacks including phishing campaigns, malware distribution, or the establishment of backdoors within the application environment. Attackers can craft payloads that appear to originate from the legitimate classifieds platform, making detection and prevention significantly more challenging for end users and security monitoring systems.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are particularly severe for local classifieds platforms that rely on user-generated content and community engagement. The exposure of user sessions and personal information through XSS attacks can result in significant reputational damage, regulatory compliance violations, and potential legal liability for the platform operators. Organizations running TurnkeyForms Local Classifieds may experience unauthorized access to user accounts, modification of classified listings, and the potential for data breaches that compromise sensitive personal information. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can leverage it from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the system, making it a particularly attractive target for cybercriminals. This type of vulnerability also represents a persistent threat that remains active until properly patched, as it does not require special privileges or complex attack vectors to exploit.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-6351 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The most effective immediate solution involves sanitizing all user input parameters, particularly the r parameter in this case, through proper escaping and validation techniques before any data is processed or rendered in web pages. Security measures should include implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution, utilizing proper HTML encoding for dynamic content, and establishing comprehensive input validation routines that reject or sanitize potentially malicious payloads. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, while conducting regular security audits and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The remediation process should follow established security frameworks such as OWASP Top 10 guidelines and ATT&CK framework techniques for web application exploitation, ensuring that the fix addresses not only this specific vulnerability but also strengthens overall application security posture against similar threats.