CVE-2008-7250 in Sarg
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Squid Analysis Report Generator (Sarg) 2.2.4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a JavaScript onload event in the User-Agent header, which is not properly handled when displaying the Squid proxy log. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2008-1168.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-7250 represents a persistent cross-site scripting flaw within the Squid Analysis Report Generator version 2.2.4, a tool designed to analyze and report on squid proxy server logs. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of user agent strings within the web interface, creating a dangerous attack vector that allows remote adversaries to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users. The flaw demonstrates a concerning pattern of incomplete security remediation, as it stems from a partial fix for CVE-2008-1168, indicating that the original vulnerability was not fully addressed in the development cycle. The SARG tool, which serves as a critical component for monitoring proxy server activities, becomes a potential entry point for attackers seeking to compromise systems through web-based attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the SARG application processes and displays user agent information from squid proxy logs without proper sanitization of the JavaScript onload event. When a malicious user agent string contains embedded JavaScript code within the onload event handler, the application fails to properly escape or filter this input before rendering it in the web interface. This improper input handling creates a classic XSS vulnerability where the injected script executes in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions, or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability specifically exploits the User-Agent header field, which is commonly used by web applications to identify client characteristics but is often not adequately validated for malicious content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a means to establish persistent access to systems running vulnerable SARG installations. When an attacker successfully injects malicious code through the User-Agent header, they can potentially harvest sensitive information from authenticated sessions, manipulate report generation processes, or use the compromised interface as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on SARG for proxy log analysis, particularly those with less sophisticated security monitoring capabilities. Given that SARG is typically used by network administrators to analyze proxy server activity, the compromise of this tool can lead to significant information disclosure and potential lateral movement within the network infrastructure, as attackers gain access to detailed proxy usage data and potentially sensitive user activity patterns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-7250 require immediate patching of the SARG application to properly sanitize all user input, particularly user agent strings, before displaying them in web interfaces. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms that prevent script execution in all user-controllable fields, following established security practices from the OWASP Top Ten and CWE guidelines. The fix should include proper HTML escaping of all dynamic content and implement Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious user agent strings, while also monitoring for unusual patterns in proxy log analysis reports. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough security testing and the dangers of incomplete vulnerability remediation, as the partial fix for CVE-2008-1168 failed to address all potential XSS vectors within the application. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script execution and T1566 for credential access through web-based attacks, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the threat posed by such vulnerabilities in network monitoring tools.