CVE-2008-6850 in PHP-Fusion
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in messages.php in PHP-Fusion 6.01.17 and 7.00.3 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6850 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the PHP-Fusion content management system versions 6.01.17 and 7.00.3. This security weakness resides in the messages.php script which handles messaging functionality within the application. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized actions and data theft. The vulnerability's classification as XSS aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting vulnerabilities in software applications. The attack vector involves unspecified input handling mechanisms within the messaging system that fail to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the PHP-Fusion messaging component. When users submit messages or interact with the messaging interface, the application processes these inputs without sufficient sanitization measures that would prevent malicious script execution. Attackers can exploit this by crafting specially formatted messages containing malicious javascript payloads or HTML code that gets stored and subsequently executed when other users view the affected messages. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects core messaging functionality, making it a persistent threat within the application's user interaction pathways. This flaw directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten 2004 and subsequent security standards that emphasize the importance of proper input validation and output encoding to prevent XSS attacks.
The operational consequences of CVE-2008-6850 extend beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious websites. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could access user accounts, modify message content, or execute arbitrary commands within the context of affected user sessions. The impact is particularly severe in environments where PHP-Fusion is used for collaborative platforms or community forums where users frequently exchange messages. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers Scripting, specifically targeting web-based scripting environments. The attack surface includes not only the messaging system but also any user interface elements that may display message content without proper sanitization, making the exploitation potential widespread across the application's user interaction points.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input sanitization and output encoding measures within the PHP-Fusion application. Organizations should apply the vendor-provided patches or upgrade to versions that address this specific XSS flaw. The recommended approach includes implementing proper HTML entity encoding for all user-supplied content before rendering it in web pages, along with comprehensive input validation that filters out potentially malicious script tags and javascript protocols. Security measures should also incorporate Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Additionally, regular security audits of the application's input handling mechanisms should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and following secure coding guidelines as outlined in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices and NIST Cybersecurity Framework standards.