CVE-2008-6848 in phpGreetCards
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in index.php in phpGreetCards 3.7 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the category parameter in a select action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2024
The CVE-2008-6848 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw in the phpGreetCards 3.7 web application that exposes users to potential malicious code execution. This vulnerability specifically affects the index.php file and occurs within the select action processing logic where the category parameter is not properly sanitized or validated. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content directly into the application's response, creating a persistent security risk that can compromise user sessions and data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the phpGreetCards application framework. When users interact with the select action functionality and provide a category parameter, the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This lack of proper sanitization creates an exploitable path where malicious actors can craft URLs containing script tags or other harmful code sequences that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the web interface components that handle user input for category selection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. Attackers can leverage this XSS flaw to steal cookies, redirect users to malicious domains, or inject malware delivery mechanisms that compromise the entire user base interacting with the vulnerable application. The persistent nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, malicious scripts can continue to execute against all subsequent users who view affected pages, creating a widespread security threat that can persist for extended periods. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications.
Organizations utilizing phpGreetCards 3.7 should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding controls to prevent malicious content from being processed or displayed. The recommended approach involves implementing proper parameter sanitization techniques that escape special characters before processing user input, combined with strict content type validation for all parameters. Additionally, the implementation of a Content Security Policy (CSP) header can provide an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which focuses on establishing persistence through web shell deployment, making it critical for security teams to monitor for any suspicious activity related to the affected application components. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other application components, as this type of flaw remains prevalent in legacy web applications that lack modern security controls and validation mechanisms.