CVE-2008-6946 in Collabtive
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in manageproject.php in Collabtive 0.4.8 allows user-assisted remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the project Name, which is not properly handled when the administrator performs an editform action, related to admin.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6946 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Collabtive 0.4.8 project management platform. This security weakness resides in the manageproject.php component and specifically affects how the application handles project name inputs during administrative editing operations. The vulnerability occurs when administrators utilize the editform action functionality, creating a persistent XSS vector that can be exploited by remote attackers who gain access to the system through user-assisted means. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental failure in input validation and output sanitization mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's administrative interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-provided project names within the administrative workflow. When administrators access the editform action through admin.php to modify project details, the system fails to properly encode or escape the project name parameter before rendering it in the web interface. This omission creates a direct path for attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected administrative pages. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the web interface components that handle project metadata management, making it particularly dangerous in collaborative environments where administrators frequently interact with project information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform various malicious activities within the compromised environment. An attacker could potentially steal administrator session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify project data, or even escalate privileges within the application. The user-assisted nature of the attack means that legitimate users must perform specific actions to trigger the vulnerability, but this requirement does not significantly reduce the threat level given that administrators typically interact with project management interfaces regularly. The persistence of the XSS vector in the administrative interface makes it particularly attractive to attackers seeking long-term access to sensitive project information and system controls.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The weakness demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate output encoding that violates fundamental security principles for web application development. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under the T1566.001 technique for "Phishing via Service" as attackers could use the XSS to create convincing phishing pages or redirect administrators to malicious sites. Additionally, the vulnerability could enable techniques such as T1071.001 for application layer protocol usage and T1566.002 for credential access through session hijacking. Organizations utilizing Collabtive 0.4.8 should implement immediate mitigations including input validation on all user-provided data, output encoding for all dynamic content, and regular security audits of administrative interfaces to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in their systems.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires comprehensive input sanitization and output encoding across all administrative interfaces. System administrators should implement strict validation of project name inputs to reject or sanitize potentially malicious content before processing. The application should employ proper HTML encoding techniques when rendering user-provided data in administrative forms and pages. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. Regular security assessments and penetration testing of administrative interfaces should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of implementing robust input validation mechanisms in all web applications, particularly those handling sensitive administrative functions.