CVE-2015-20118 in RealtyScript
Summary
by MITRE • 03/16/2026
Next Click Ventures RealtyScript 4.0.2 contains a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability in the location_name parameter of the admin locations interface. Attackers can submit POST requests to the locations.php endpoint with JavaScript payloads in the location_name field to execute arbitrary code in administrator browsers.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-20118 affects Next Click Ventures RealtyScript version 4.0.2, specifically targeting the administrative locations interface. This represents a critical security flaw that allows malicious actors to inject malicious JavaScript code into the application's database through a carefully crafted POST request. The vulnerability resides in the location_name parameter handling within the locations.php endpoint, which fails to properly sanitize or validate user input before storing it in the system's database. This oversight creates a persistent security risk where malicious code remains embedded in the application's data store and executes whenever the affected administrative interface is accessed.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic stored cross-site scripting pattern where the malicious payload is not executed immediately upon submission but rather stored within the application's backend database. When administrators access the locations interface to view or manage location data, the stored JavaScript code is retrieved from the database and executed within the browser context of the authenticated administrator. This creates a dangerous attack scenario where attackers can leverage the elevated privileges of administrative users to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, modifying or deleting critical data, or even gaining full system control. The vulnerability specifically targets the POST request mechanism to locations.php, indicating that the flaw exists in how the application processes and stores form data rather than in client-side validation alone.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or unauthorized access. Attackers can exploit this weakness to establish persistent access to the administrative interface, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The stored nature of the XSS payload means that the attack remains effective even after the initial injection, creating a long-term threat vector that can be leveraged by attackers over extended periods. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant escalation opportunity since administrative access provides extensive privileges within the application environment. The attack chain typically involves crafting malicious JavaScript payloads that can perform actions like redirecting users to malicious sites, stealing authentication tokens, or executing additional malicious code within the administrative context.
Security professionals should address this vulnerability through immediate patching of the RealtyScript application to version 4.0.3 or later, which contains the necessary input validation and sanitization fixes. The recommended mitigation approach aligns with CWE-79 principles for preventing cross-site scripting attacks, emphasizing proper input validation and output encoding. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures that validate all user-supplied data against strict whitelists of acceptable characters and patterns. Additionally, implementing proper content security policies can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts even if input validation fails. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, particularly focusing on areas where user input is stored and later rendered without proper sanitization. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, ensuring that all user input is properly validated and that applications implement proper access controls and privilege management.