CVE-2015-1373 in ferretCMS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in admin.php in ferretCMS 1.0.4-alpha allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) action parameter in a search request, (2) username in a login request, which is not properly handled when logging the event, or (3) page title in an insert action.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1373 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within ferretCMS version 1.0.4-alpha, specifically targeting the admin.php administrative interface. This vulnerability manifests through three distinct attack vectors that collectively demonstrate poor input validation and sanitization practices within the content management system's administrative components. The presence of multiple XSS pathways indicates a systemic security flaw in how the application processes user-supplied data in administrative contexts, creating an elevated risk profile for unauthorized actors seeking to exploit the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user input across three primary parameters within the administrative interface. The first vector involves the action parameter during search requests, where malicious scripts can be injected and subsequently executed in the context of authenticated administrator sessions. The second vulnerability occurs during login operations when the username parameter is not adequately sanitized before being logged, creating a stored XSS opportunity that persists in log files or administrative displays. The third attack vector targets the page title field during insert operations, where unfiltered user input allows for script injection that can be executed when pages are rendered to administrators. These vulnerabilities collectively represent a failure in proper input validation and output encoding practices that are fundamental to preventing XSS attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1373 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to administrative functions and sensitive system information. When an authenticated administrator interacts with the compromised system, malicious scripts can execute in their browser context, potentially enabling session hijacking, data exfiltration, or privilege escalation attacks. The stored nature of some of these vulnerabilities means that the malicious payloads can persist and affect multiple users over time, creating a sustained threat vector. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a classic example of how inadequate input sanitization can create persistent security weaknesses in web applications. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it targets administrative interfaces where attackers could gain elevated privileges and access to sensitive system configurations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-1373 must address the root causes of the input validation failures through comprehensive security hardening measures. Organizations should implement strict input sanitization and output encoding for all user-supplied data, particularly within administrative interfaces where the risk of privilege escalation exists. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers, proper HTML escaping, and parameterized queries can effectively neutralize the XSS attack vectors. Additionally, regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection attacks, emphasizing the need for robust input validation mechanisms throughout the application lifecycle to prevent such persistent security weaknesses from being exploited by threat actors.