CVE-2015-2677 in ocPortal
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in ocPortal before 9.0.17 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) title or (2) text field in the cms_calendar page to cms/index.php; unspecified fields in (3) the cms_polls page to cms/index.php or (4) a new topic in the topics page to forum/index.php; or (5) a new PT (private topic/private message) in the topics page to forum/index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2677 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting ocPortal versions prior to 9.0.17. This vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 as it involves the injection of malicious scripts into web applications through user input fields. The flaw exists within the content management system's handling of user-provided data across multiple pages including calendar, polls, and forum functionalities, creating multiple attack vectors for authenticated users to exploit.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the ocPortal application. Attackers with authenticated access can manipulate specific fields in the cms_calendar page by injecting malicious scripts into title or text fields, while similar vulnerabilities exist in cms_polls page fields and forum topic creation areas. The vulnerability affects both regular topics and private topics/private messages within the forum system, demonstrating the breadth of impacted functionality. These injection points occur during the processing of user-submitted content without proper sanitization of potentially malicious input.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2677 is significant as it allows authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers. This capability enables attackers to potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, deface the website, or perform actions on behalf of legitimate users. The vulnerability particularly threatens the forum functionality where private messages could be intercepted or where regular topics could be used to compromise other users. The authenticated nature of the attack reduces the barrier to exploitation compared to unauthenticated XSS vulnerabilities, making this a serious concern for organizations relying on ocPortal for content management.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-2677 should focus on immediate patching of the ocPortal application to version 9.0.17 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for input validation and output encoding. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures, including the use of context-sensitive output encoding for all user-provided data. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting user permissions where possible, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, web application firewalls and security monitoring systems should be configured to detect and prevent XSS attack patterns, while user education regarding suspicious content should be maintained as part of overall security awareness programs. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.002 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachment, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the threat landscape surrounding such vulnerabilities.