CVE-2008-6501 in Pro Chat Rooms
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in profiles/index.php in Pro Chat Rooms 3.0.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the gud parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6501 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Pro Chat Rooms 3.0.2 web application, specifically targeting the profiles/index.php component. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of user input through the gud parameter, which fails to properly sanitize or validate data before incorporating it into web responses. The flaw enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML content within the context of other users' browsers, creating a significant vector for various attack scenarios including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the application's profile management system. When the gud parameter is processed by profiles/index.php, the application directly incorporates user-supplied data into dynamically generated HTML content without appropriate sanitization measures. This failure aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities arising from inadequate input validation and output encoding. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, where user-provided data flows through the application's request handling mechanism and gets rendered in web pages without proper security controls.
The operational impact of this XSS vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate user sessions and compromise the integrity of the chat room environment. An attacker could craft malicious payloads that, when executed in a victim's browser, might steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or inject malicious content that persists within the application's user interface. The consequences are particularly severe in a chat room environment where users trust the platform for communication, making the exploitation of this vulnerability potentially devastating for user privacy and application security. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531, which covers the use of malicious code injection to gain unauthorized access to systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary fix involves implementing proper input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters, particularly the gud parameter in this case. Developers should employ strict sanitization routines that remove or escape potentially dangerous characters and sequences before incorporating user data into web responses. Additionally, the application should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation as outlined in OWASP Top Ten 2017 category A03: Injection, emphasizing that proper parameter validation and sanitization are fundamental security controls that must be implemented at every layer of application development. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security testing to detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities in their deployed systems.