CVE-2015-0866 in SupportCenter Plus
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Zoho ManageEngine SupportCenter Plus 7.9 before hotfix 7941 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) fromCustomer, (2) username, or (3) password parameter to HomePage.do.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0866 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in Zoho ManageEngine SupportCenter Plus version 7.9 prior to hotfix 7941. This flaw exists within the web application's input validation mechanisms, specifically affecting the HomePage.do servlet which processes user authentication parameters. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of victim browsers, potentially compromising user sessions and accessing sensitive data. The affected parameters include fromCustomer, username, and password fields, which are processed without adequate sanitization or encoding, creating persistent XSS attack vectors. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically targeting the web application's failure to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamic web content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft malicious payloads that leverage the three identified parameters within the HomePage.do endpoint. When users navigate to the affected application page, their browsers execute the injected scripts, which can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or modifying page content. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by its location in the authentication flow, where attackers can manipulate the login process to inject malicious code that persists until the session expires or the page is refreshed. This allows for session hijacking attacks and potential privilege escalation depending on the victim's access level within the support center system. The attack vector is classified as remote and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may encounter malicious links or be tricked into visiting compromised pages.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to complete compromise of user accounts and potential data breaches within the support center environment. Attackers can leverage the XSS flaw to capture authentication credentials, monitor user activities, or manipulate support tickets and customer information. The vulnerability affects the core authentication and session management functionality of the application, potentially allowing attackers to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to sensitive support data. Organizations using this version of SupportCenter Plus face significant risk of credential theft, data exposure, and potential regulatory compliance violations. The vulnerability's presence in the login page makes it particularly attractive to attackers seeking to establish persistent access to the support infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-0866 should prioritize immediate application of the available hotfix 7941 from Zoho, which addresses the input validation issues in the affected parameters. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures that encode all user-supplied data before processing, particularly focusing on the three vulnerable parameters identified in the exploit. Web application firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts targeting the HomePage.do endpoint. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough code reviews of the application's authentication flow and implement proper output encoding for all dynamic content generated from user inputs. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be performed to identify similar issues in other application components, as this vulnerability demonstrates a broader pattern of insufficient input validation in the application's architecture. The remediation approach should align with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for phishing, as these attack vectors commonly exploit similar input validation weaknesses.