CVE-2015-0167 in Textangular
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in textAngular-sanitize.js in textAngular before 1.3.7 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors to the editor.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2022
The CVE-2015-0167 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the textAngular JavaScript library's sanitize component, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.3.7. This vulnerability resides within the textAngular-sanitize.js file which serves as a core component for processing and sanitizing HTML content within the textAngular rich text editor. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly neutralize malicious script content, creating an exploitable entry point for remote attackers seeking to execute arbitrary web scripts within victim browsers. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple content manipulation as it fundamentally compromises the security model of web applications that rely on textAngular for user-generated content processing.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors within the editor's sanitization process, where attacker-controlled input can bypass the intended security measures designed to strip malicious HTML tags and JavaScript code. This flaw allows adversaries to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no privileged access, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through simple user input fields that utilize the textAngular editor. The sanitization mechanism fails to properly handle edge cases or complex injection techniques that could circumvent the standard filtering rules, creating multiple attack vectors for exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond individual user sessions as it can compromise entire web applications that utilize textAngular for content management systems, forums, or collaborative platforms. When exploited, the vulnerability enables attackers to execute persistent XSS payloads that can steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or inject malicious advertisements into the application's content. The vulnerability affects both authenticated and unauthenticated users, making it particularly dangerous for applications that do not properly validate or sanitize user input before rendering it within the editor. This creates a significant risk for web applications that rely on user-generated content, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to compromise the application's integrity and user trust. The vulnerability also poses risks to web application firewalls and other security controls that may not detect or block the malicious content due to the sophisticated nature of the injection vectors.
Organizations utilizing textAngular versions prior to 1.3.7 should immediately implement remediation strategies including upgrading to the patched version 1.3.7 or later, which contains improved sanitization logic and input validation mechanisms. Additional mitigations include implementing content security policies that restrict script execution, employing additional input validation layers, and conducting thorough security testing of all user input handling components. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a fundamental weakness in web applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 which covers command and scripting interpreter for executing malicious code. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block potential exploitation attempts, while conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues in other third-party libraries and components.