CVE-2008-6733 in DotNetNuke
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the error handling page in DotNetNuke 4.6.2 through 4.8.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the querystring parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/29/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6733 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the error handling mechanisms of DotNetNuke content management systems. This security weakness affects versions ranging from 4.6.2 through 4.8.3, creating a significant attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected user sessions. The vulnerability specifically targets the error handling page's processing of querystring parameters, which serves as an entry point for unauthorized code injection.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the DotNetNuke error handling subsystem. When the system encounters an error condition, it processes querystring parameters to display error messages to users, but fails to properly sanitize these inputs before rendering them in the browser context. This insufficient sanitization creates an environment where attacker-controlled data can be interpreted as executable script code rather than benign input, allowing for the injection of malicious payloads that persistently execute within user browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. Attackers can craft specially formatted querystring parameters that, when processed by the vulnerable error handling page, execute scripts that steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or manipulate the application interface. The persistent nature of XSS vulnerabilities means that once exploited, these attacks can affect multiple users who encounter the vulnerable error page, potentially leading to widespread compromise of user sessions and sensitive data exposure.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for initial access through malicious links and T1071 for application layer protocol usage. The attack vector leverages the web application's legitimate error reporting functionality to deliver malicious payloads, making detection more challenging as the malicious code appears to originate from legitimate system processes. Organizations using affected DotNetNuke versions face significant risk of unauthorized access and data breaches, particularly in environments where users have administrative privileges or access to sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to the latest DotNetNuke versions that address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms within error handling pages can provide defense-in-depth protection. Organizations should also consider deploying web application firewalls and implementing content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, while user education regarding suspicious links and error messages can help reduce successful exploitation attempts through social engineering approaches.