CVE-2008-7018 in Easy PHP Calendar
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in NashTech Easy PHP Calendar 6.3.25 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Details field (descr parameter) in an Add New Event action in an unspecified request as generated by an add action in index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2017
The CVE-2008-7018 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the NashTech Easy PHP Calendar version 6.3.25, classified under CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. This vulnerability exists in the calendar application's handling of user input through the Details field, specifically when processing the descr parameter during the Add New Event functionality. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious payload containing script code within the descr parameter of the add action in index.php. When a victim visits a page containing the maliciously crafted event details, the embedded script executes in the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1531 Credential Access through the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code in user browsers through input manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform persistent attacks against users of the calendar application. The flaw affects the entire user base who interact with calendar events, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users share the same calendar system. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish backdoors, steal session cookies, or manipulate calendar data to create false events that might be used for social engineering attacks. The vulnerability's persistence is enhanced by the fact that it operates at the application layer, making it difficult to detect through network-based security measures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-7018 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's codebase. The most effective remediation involves sanitizing all user input before processing and encoding any data that will be rendered in web pages to prevent script injection. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, employ proper parameter validation routines, and ensure that all user-supplied data undergoes rigorous sanitization before being stored or displayed. Additionally, regular security code reviews and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar input handling flaws that may exist in other application components, particularly those following the ATT&CK technique T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application through web application vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and other web application security standards.