CVE-2015-2103 in Cosmoshop
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the admin-login panel (admin/index.cgi) in Cosmoshop allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the username field (u_name parameter).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2103 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the administrative login interface of the Cosmoshop e-commerce platform. This weakness specifically targets the admin/index.cgi endpoint where user authentication occurs, creating a dangerous attack vector that enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts within the context of authenticated sessions. The vulnerability manifests through the improper handling of the u_name parameter, which is utilized to capture username inputs during the administrative login process, thereby exposing the system to persistent script injection attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the administrative interface. When administrators or attackers submit data through the username field, the application fails to adequately sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This inadequate sanitization process creates an environment where malicious payloads can be stored and subsequently executed when the compromised data is rendered back to users, particularly those with administrative privileges. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, where the application fails to validate or encode user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the capability to escalate privileges and gain full administrative control over the affected system. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute malicious scripts that persistently target other administrators or users within the same session, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it targets the administrative login panel, which typically contains sensitive information and system controls that could be leveraged for further attacks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers the execution of scripts through web interfaces, and T1566 which addresses social engineering through malicious web content delivery.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-2103 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities. The primary solution involves implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms that properly sanitize all user-supplied data before processing or rendering. This includes employing proper HTML escaping techniques, implementing Content Security Policy headers, and ensuring that all parameters including u_name are validated against expected input formats. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, regular security code reviews, and comprehensive penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include immediate patching of the affected application version, followed by thorough testing to ensure that the fix does not introduce new functionality issues while maintaining the system's operational integrity. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems that can detect and block suspicious script injection attempts provides an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts.