CVE-2008-6450 in PC2M
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Under Construction, Baby (UCB) PC2M 0.9.22.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2018
The CVE-2008-6450 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Under Construction Baby PC2M software version 0.9.22.4 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within a web application framework that was designed to manage under construction web pages and related functionalities. The software's architecture failed to properly sanitize user input, creating an exploitable condition that could allow remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into the application's response. The vulnerability's classification as a persistent XSS flaw indicates that the malicious code could be executed in the context of other users' browsers, potentially compromising their sessions and data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the UCB PC2M application. Attackers could leverage this weakness through unspecified vectors that likely involved manipulating parameters or content fields within the web interface. The flaw operates by allowing malicious input to bypass security controls that should have prevented the execution of untrusted code within the browser context. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws, particularly those involving improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects a widely used web application framework, potentially exposing numerous installations to exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking. When exploited, the XSS flaw could enable attackers to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The malicious scripts injected through this vulnerability could harvest cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform unauthorized administrative actions within the application. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1059.007 (Scripting) and T1531 (Account Access Token Manipulation) as attackers could leverage the XSS to escalate privileges or maintain persistent access. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers could target users without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on web-based administration tools.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate the risk. The primary mitigation involves updating to the latest version of UCB PC2M software where the XSS vulnerability has been patched. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application can help prevent similar issues in other components. Web Application Firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify other potential XSS vectors. According to industry best practices and the OWASP Top Ten project, this vulnerability represents a critical security risk that requires immediate attention and remediation to prevent unauthorized access and data compromise.