CVE-2008-6715 in ADS Portal
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Pre ADS Portal 2.0 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the msg parameter to (1) homeadmin/adminhome.php and (2) homeadmin/signinform.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6715 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Pre ADS Portal versions 2.0 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user input within specific administrative endpoints, specifically targeting the msg parameter in two distinct files. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft. The affected paths homeadmin/adminhome.php and homeadmin/signinform.php demonstrate that the vulnerability impacts both the main administrative dashboard and the sign-in authentication interface, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Pre ADS Portal application. When the msg parameter is processed through these administrative scripts, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before rendering it in the web page context. This lack of proper input sanitization creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML payloads that execute in the victim's browser. The vulnerability is classified as a classic reflected cross-site scripting issue where the malicious payload is reflected back to the user through the application's response, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no persistent storage of the malicious content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to administrative functions and sensitive user data. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized administrative actions, or redirect users to malicious websites. The fact that both the main administrative home page and sign-in form are affected creates multiple attack vectors, potentially allowing attackers to first gain access through the sign-in form and then leverage their privileges within the administrative interface. This dual impact increases the overall risk and potential damage that can be achieved through a single exploitation attempt, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on this portal for critical operations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement input validation measures and output encoding to prevent the execution of malicious scripts. The recommended mitigations include implementing proper parameter sanitization, employing Content Security Policy headers, and ensuring all user-supplied input is properly escaped before being rendered in web pages. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content and potentially T1078 for legitimate credential access if attackers can leverage the administrative interface. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, and conduct comprehensive security testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their web infrastructure.