CVE-2008-6868 in EsBaseAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in default/login.php in EditeurScripts EsBaseAdmin 2.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the msg parameter. NOTE: the EsContacts 1.0 issue is covered in CVE-2008-2037.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/19/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6868 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the EditeurScripts EsBaseAdmin 2.1 web application, specifically in the default/login.php component. This security weakness exposes the system to remote code execution through malicious web script injection, creating significant risks for users and organizations relying on the platform. The vulnerability manifests through the msg parameter, which serves as an entry point for attackers to manipulate the application's behavior and potentially compromise user sessions or steal sensitive information.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the login.php script. When the application processes the msg parameter without proper encoding or filtering, it fails to distinguish between legitimate user input and malicious script code. This primitive flaw allows attackers to inject HTML tags, javascript code, or other malicious content that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting weaknesses in web applications where user-provided data is not properly sanitized before being rendered to end users. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various vectors including reflected XSS attacks, where malicious payloads are embedded in URLs or form submissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling sophisticated attack chains that could lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or complete system compromise. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing the msg parameter with embedded javascript payloads that execute when users navigate to the compromised page. This creates opportunities for man-in-the-middle attacks, where session cookies or authentication tokens may be stolen, leading to unauthorized access to administrative functions. The vulnerability affects the authentication mechanism of the EsBaseAdmin system, which could allow attackers to bypass authentication controls or escalate privileges within the application. According to ATT&CK framework category T1059, this represents a code injection technique that can be leveraged to execute malicious code within the victim's browser context, while T1531 focuses on the exploitation of credential exposure through session management weaknesses.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-6868 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user-provided input, particularly the msg parameter, by implementing strict validation rules that reject or encode potentially dangerous characters and script tags. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. The system administrators should also consider upgrading to newer versions of the EsBaseAdmin platform where these vulnerabilities have been addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding. Additionally, implementing proper session management controls and regular security audits can help detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future deployments. The fix should align with OWASP Top 10 recommendations for preventing XSS attacks through proper input validation and output encoding practices, ensuring that all user-supplied data is treated as potentially malicious until proven otherwise.