CVE-2015-1475 in MyLittleForum
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in my little forum 2.3.3, 2.2, and 1.7 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) page or (2) category parameter to forum.php or the (3) page or (4) order parameter to (a) board_entry.php or (b) forum_entry.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1475 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting my little forum versions 2.3.3, 2.2, and 1.7. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the forum's core PHP scripts, specifically targeting parameters that handle user-supplied data. The vulnerability manifests in multiple locations including forum.php, board_entry.php, and forum_entry.php, making it particularly dangerous as it affects various entry points within the application's functionality. According to CWE-79, this vulnerability falls under the category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a severe web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The attack vector operates through the manipulation of page and category parameters in forum.php, as well as page and order parameters in board_entry.php and forum_entry.php, creating multiple attack surfaces for potential exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the forum's failure to properly sanitize user input before rendering it in web responses. When users submit data through these specific parameters, the application directly incorporates the input into HTML output without adequate encoding or filtering mechanisms. This allows malicious actors to inject HTML tags, JavaScript code, or other malicious content that executes in the context of other users' browsers. The flaw essentially creates a persistent injection point where attacker-controlled content can be stored and subsequently executed whenever legitimate users access the affected pages. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that these parameters are likely used in navigation and display logic, meaning that malicious payloads can be triggered during normal forum operations. Attackers can leverage this to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious sites, or even establish persistent backdoors within the forum environment. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which describes the use of malicious code injection to gain access to user sessions and execute unauthorized actions.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-1475 extends far beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it fundamentally compromises user security and application integrity. Successful exploitation can lead to complete session hijacking, where attackers gain unauthorized access to user accounts and can perform administrative functions. The vulnerability also enables phishing attacks against forum users, as malicious scripts can redirect them to fraudulent sites or steal their credentials. Additionally, the attack can result in defacement of the forum content, data exfiltration, and potential propagation to other systems if forum users are administrators of other applications. The widespread nature of this vulnerability across multiple forum versions suggests that it represents a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture rather than an isolated incident. Organizations relying on affected versions of my little forum face significant risk of credential theft, unauthorized content modification, and potential compromise of their entire user base. The vulnerability's persistence means that once exploited, malicious content can continue to affect users until the application is patched and the malicious data is removed from the system. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for community forums where user-generated content is common and where the attack surface is continuously expanding through user interactions. The security implications also extend to potential chain reactions where compromised forum users may inadvertently introduce additional vulnerabilities into their broader network environments, making this vulnerability a significant concern for enterprise security teams.