CVE-2008-7039 in Gelatocms
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in admin/comments.php in Gelato CMS 0.95 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the content parameter in a comment. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/15/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-7039 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Gelato CMS version 0.95 administrative interface. This issue specifically targets the comments management functionality where the application fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it back to users. The vulnerability exists in the admin/comments.php file which processes comment submissions and displays them without adequate validation or encoding of potentially malicious content. Attackers can exploit this weakness by submitting crafted HTML or JavaScript code through the content parameter of comment forms, which then gets executed in the browsers of other users who view these comments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which defines the common weakness of cross-site scripting in web applications. This particular implementation flaw demonstrates how insufficient input validation and output encoding can create persistent security risks within content management systems. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user-supplied data flows directly into the web response without proper sanitization, creating an environment where malicious scripts can execute in the context of legitimate user sessions. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it targets the administrative interface, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or steal sensitive information from administrators who view compromised comments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even inject persistent backdoors through more sophisticated attack chains. When administrators interact with compromised comment data, their browser sessions become vulnerable to manipulation, potentially allowing unauthorized access to the entire CMS administrative environment. This risk is compounded by the fact that the vulnerability affects the comments management interface, which typically contains sensitive administrative data and functionality. The exposure creates opportunities for attackers to gather intelligence about the CMS configuration, user permissions, and potentially other system vulnerabilities through the execution of malicious scripts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-7039 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied content before storage and properly encoding data when rendering it back to users, particularly in administrative contexts. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution, employ proper parameterized queries or input filters, and conduct regular security testing of web applications. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of keeping CMS platforms updated, as this specific version of Gelato CMS is outdated and likely contains other unpatched security issues. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, emphasizing the need for comprehensive application security testing and regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in web applications.