CVE-2008-6439 in AbleDating
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in search_results.php in ABK-Soft AbleDating 2.4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the keyword parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2025
The CVE-2008-6439 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the ABK-Soft AbleDating 2.4 web application, specifically within the search_results.php script. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts in the context of other users' browsers. The affected parameter, keyword, serves as the primary injection vector where unfiltered user input is directly incorporated into the web page response without proper encoding or sanitization measures.
This vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications. The technical implementation involves the application failing to properly escape or encode special characters in the keyword parameter before rendering it in the HTML output of the search results page. When a malicious user submits crafted script code through this parameter, the application processes it and includes it verbatim in the response, allowing the script to execute in the victim's browser session. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it enables attackers to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of users, or redirect them to malicious sites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the context of the target application. An attacker could craft malicious payloads that exploit the XSS flaw to steal user authentication tokens, manipulate the application's functionality, or redirect users to phishing sites that appear legitimate. The vulnerability affects all users of the AbleDating 2.4 platform who interact with the search functionality, potentially compromising the entire user base. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531, which describes the use of cross-site scripting to gain unauthorized access to user sessions and manipulate application behavior.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through proper encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding, JavaScript escaping, or using secure framework functions that automatically handle such sanitization. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks. The application should also enforce strict input validation on the keyword parameter, rejecting or filtering out potentially dangerous characters and script tags. Regular security code reviews and automated vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar issues in other parts of the application, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of consistent security practices throughout the codebase.