CVE-2015-2793 in Ikiwiki
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in templates/openid-selector.tmpl in ikiwiki before 3.20150329 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the openid_identifier parameter in a verify action to ikiwiki.cgi.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2793 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the ikiwiki content management system, specifically affecting versions prior to 3.20150329. This vulnerability resides in the template file templates/openid-selector.tmpl and manifests when the openid_identifier parameter is processed through the verify action of ikiwiki.cgi. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers, creating a significant security risk for any system utilizing affected versions of ikiwiki.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the openid-selector template. When users submit an openid_identifier parameter through the verify action, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it within the HTML template. This oversight creates an opening for malicious actors to inject malicious scripts that will execute whenever other users view the affected page. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, where improper neutralization of input data leads to execution of unintended code within the victim's browser context. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it leverages the openid authentication mechanism, which is typically trusted by users and system administrators, making the exploitation more likely to succeed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that compromise user sessions, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious sites. Attackers could potentially inject scripts that capture user credentials, manipulate page content, or establish persistent backdoors within the affected system. Given that ikiwiki is commonly used for collaborative documentation and wiki environments, the vulnerability could be exploited to compromise entire wikis, affecting multiple users and potentially exposing confidential information. The attack requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on ikiwiki for content management. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) and T1531 (Account Access Removal) through session hijacking capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-2793 primarily involve upgrading to ikiwiki version 3.20150329 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. System administrators should also implement comprehensive input validation at multiple layers, including web application firewalls and custom sanitization routines that escape special characters in user-provided data. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing content security policies to limit script execution capabilities within the application context. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other components of the web application stack, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input/output handling in authentication mechanisms. The fix implemented in the patched version addresses the root cause by ensuring that all user-provided openid_identifier parameters are properly escaped before being rendered in the HTML template, preventing the execution of malicious scripts in the victim's browser context.