CVE-2015-10079 in WalrusIRC
Summary
by MITRE • 02/14/2023
A vulnerability was found in juju2143 WalrusIRC 0.0.2. It has been rated as problematic. This issue affects the function parseLinks of the file public/parser.js. The manipulation of the argument text leads to cross site scripting. The attack may be initiated remotely. Upgrading to version 0.0.3 is able to address this issue. The name of the patch is 45fd885895ae13e8d9b3a71e89d59768914f60af. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-220751.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-10079 represents a cross-site scripting vulnerability within the juju2143 WalrusIRC 0.0.2 web application, specifically affecting the parseLinks function in the public/parser.js file. This flaw demonstrates a classic input validation weakness where user-supplied text parameters are not properly sanitized before being rendered in the browser context. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the client-side rendering process, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through web-based attack vectors without requiring local system access. The issue is categorized under CWE-79 as a cross-site scripting flaw, which represents one of the most prevalent and well-documented web application security vulnerabilities in the industry.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input text that contains script tags or other malicious code sequences which are then processed by the parseLinks function. When this function fails to properly escape or sanitize the input text before displaying it to users, the malicious code gets executed within the victim's browser context, potentially allowing for session hijacking, data theft, or further malicious activities. The remote attack vector means that an attacker can trigger this vulnerability through web-based interactions without needing physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in web-facing applications. The vulnerability specifically manifests in the JavaScript parsing and rendering logic, where untrusted input flows directly into the DOM without proper sanitization mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including credential theft, session manipulation, and data exfiltration. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to impersonate legitimate users, access sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious websites. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the WalrusIRC application's text processing capabilities, potentially compromising the entire user interaction experience and security posture of the application. Organizations relying on this version of WalrusIRC would be exposed to persistent threats that could escalate to full system compromise if the application handles sensitive user data or credentials.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to version 0.0.3 of the WalrusIRC application, which contains the patch identified by the commit hash 45fd885895ae13e8d9b3a71e89d59768914f60af. This upgrade addresses the root cause by implementing proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms in the parseLinks function. Security practitioners should also consider implementing additional defensive measures such as content security policies, input validation at multiple layers, and regular security assessments of web applications. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213 (Data from Information Repositories) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers could use this vulnerability to establish persistent access or conduct social engineering campaigns. Organizations should also implement proper web application firewalls and monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while ensuring that all web applications undergo regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify similar issues before they can be exploited in production environments.