CVE-2015-2145 in phpBugTracker
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Issuetracker phpBugTracker before 1.7.0 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2145 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting phpBugTracker version 1.6.1 and earlier. This issue falls under the category of CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental web application security flaw that allows malicious actors to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability exists in the issue tracking system's handling of user input parameters, creating an attack surface where unfiltered data can be executed as web scripts within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified parameters within the phpBugTracker application's web interface. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable system, get executed in the browsers of unsuspecting users who view the affected pages. This type of attack leverages the trust relationship between the web application and its users, allowing attackers to bypass normal security controls and potentially escalate privileges or access sensitive information. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and output sanitization practices that are fundamental to secure web application development.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2015-2145 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, deface web applications, steal user credentials, or redirect victims to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of phpBugTracker, which is designed for collaborative issue tracking, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with the system. Attackers can manipulate the application's behavior to execute arbitrary JavaScript code, potentially compromising the entire user session and allowing for further exploitation within the network environment.
Security practitioners should implement multiple layers of defense to address this vulnerability, including input validation, output encoding, and proper parameter sanitization. The recommended mitigation involves upgrading to phpBugTracker version 1.7.0 or later, which includes patches addressing the XSS vulnerabilities. Additionally, organizations should deploy web application firewalls, implement content security policies, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, highlighting the importance of proper input handling and the potential for attackers to leverage client-side scripting vulnerabilities for broader exploitation. The vulnerability also emphasizes the necessity of following secure coding practices and adhering to OWASP Top Ten security guidelines to prevent such widespread client-side attack vectors.