CVE-2015-2217 in Ultimate PHP Board
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Ultimate PHP Board (aka myUPB) 2.2.7 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) q parameter to search.php or (2) avatar parameter to profile.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2024
The CVE-2015-2217 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Ultimate PHP Board version 2.2.7, commonly known as myUPB. This vulnerability resides within the web application's input validation mechanisms, specifically affecting two distinct parameters that handle user-supplied data. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability impacts both the search functionality and user profile management components, demonstrating a fundamental weakness in the application's data handling processes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through two primary attack vectors that leverage different parameter names within the application's URL structure. The first vector targets the 'q' parameter in the search.php file, while the second exploits the 'avatar' parameter in profile.php. Both attack paths demonstrate the same underlying flaw where user-provided data enters the application's processing pipeline without adequate sanitization measures. When an attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or other executable code and submits it through either of these parameters, the vulnerable application stores or displays this data without proper escaping, allowing the injected code to execute in the victim's browser context. This behavior directly violates standard security practices for input validation and output encoding, creating persistent XSS vulnerabilities that can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2217 extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it fundamentally compromises user security and application integrity. Attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to steal session cookies, impersonate legitimate users, access restricted areas of the application, or redirect victims to phishing sites. The persistent nature of stored XSS vulnerabilities means that once exploited, malicious scripts can affect multiple users over time, potentially leading to widespread compromise of user accounts and sensitive data. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of user interaction within the application, undermining trust in the platform and potentially exposing personal information, private messages, and user credentials that are stored or displayed within the forum environment. Organizations using affected versions of myUPB face significant risk of unauthorized access and data breaches, particularly in environments where users frequently post content or interact with profile information.
Security mitigations for CVE-2015-2217 should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all user-supplied data entry points. The primary defense involves sanitizing all input parameters through proper escaping techniques before processing or storing user data, with particular attention to HTML and script tag removal or encoding. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, while also ensuring that all user-generated content is properly encoded when rendered in web pages. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses, while immediate remediation includes upgrading to patched versions of the myUPB application or implementing proper input sanitization measures. Additionally, implementing proper logging and monitoring of user input patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts and provide early warning of active attacks against the vulnerable application components.