CVE-2015-1053 in Croogo
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the administrative backend in Croogo before 2.2.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the path parameter to admin/file_manager/file_manager/editfile.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2022
The CVE-2015-1053 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Croogo content management system's administrative backend. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 2.2.1 and resides within the file manager component that handles file editing operations. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input passed through the path parameter in the admin/file_manager/file_manager/editfile endpoint, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated administrative sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the Croogo administrative interface. When administrators navigate to the file editing functionality and provide a malicious path parameter, the system does not adequately filter or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This lack of proper sanitization allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that persist within the application's administrative interface, enabling them to execute scripts in the context of other administrators' browsers. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, where the application fails to properly validate or escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with a direct pathway to compromise administrative accounts and potentially gain full control over the CMS installation. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to modify or delete content, create new administrative user accounts, access sensitive data, and manipulate the entire website functionality. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it targets the administrative backend, meaning that any successful XSS payload could be executed in the context of high-privilege sessions, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which describes the use of script-based commands to execute malicious code, and T1566 which covers the exploitation of web applications through injection attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1053 require immediate implementation of version upgrades to Croogo 2.2.1 or later, which includes proper input validation and output encoding fixes. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including web application firewall rules to filter malicious input patterns, regular security audits of administrative endpoints, and comprehensive input sanitization protocols. The fix typically involves implementing proper HTML escaping of user-supplied data before rendering it in administrative interfaces, along with robust parameter validation that rejects suspicious input patterns. Security teams should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities and monitor for unusual administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security training for administrators and implementation of principle of least privilege access controls can help minimize the potential impact of such vulnerabilities when they do occur.