CVE-2008-7036 in E-XooPS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in index.php in DevTracker module 3.0 for bcoos 1.1.11 and earlier, and DevTracker module 0.20 for E-XooPS 1.0.8 and earlier, allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) direction and (2) order_by parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2025
The CVE-2008-7036 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness discovered in the DevTracker module versions 3.0 for bcoos 1.1.11 and earlier, as well as version 0.20 for E-XooPS 1.0.8 and earlier. This vulnerability resides within the index.php file and demonstrates a classic input validation flaw that enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected web applications. The vulnerability specifically affects two parameters: direction and order_by, which are commonly used for sorting and directional navigation in web applications. These parameters are typically processed server-side to determine the order in which data is displayed to users, making them prime targets for injection attacks when proper sanitization measures are absent.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when user-supplied input is directly incorporated into dynamic web content without adequate validation or sanitization. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that leverage these parameters to inject harmful scripts, which then execute in the browsers of unsuspecting users who access the affected pages. The direction and order_by parameters are particularly susceptible because they are often used to manipulate query results and display ordering, creating an environment where unfiltered input can be seamlessly integrated into the application's output. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and it aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities through injection attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-7036 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious sites. When users browse to affected pages with manipulated direction and order_by parameters, their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially compromising their sessions and exposing sensitive information. The vulnerability affects both bcoos and E-XooPS platforms, indicating a widespread issue within these content management systems where user input handling is insufficiently secured. The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to complete compromise of user sessions and unauthorized access to sensitive application data, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that handle user authentication or administrative functions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-7036 must focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input through strict parameter validation, ensuring that only expected values are accepted for direction and order_by parameters. Web application developers should implement proper encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding when rendering user input back to the browser. Additionally, developers should employ parameterized queries and maintain strict access controls to prevent unauthorized input manipulation. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against such injection attacks. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of input validation practices and demonstrates how seemingly innocuous parameters can become attack vectors when proper security measures are not implemented, making it a prime example of why robust security practices must be integrated throughout the entire software development lifecycle.