CVE-2015-2926 in phpTrafficA
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Php/stats/statsRecent.inc.php in phpTrafficA 2.3 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the HTTP User-Agent header to index.php.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2926 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the phpTrafficA web analytics platform version 2.3 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the Php/stats/statsRecent.inc.php component and specifically targets the handling of HTTP User-Agent headers within the index.php script. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code in the context of a victim's browser, potentially compromising user sessions and data integrity. This represents a classic server-side input validation failure that enables persistent XSS attacks through user-provided header information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input within the HTTP User-Agent header field. When phpTrafficA processes incoming requests, it fails to properly escape or filter the User-Agent string before incorporating it into dynamic web page content. This oversight creates an injection vector where malicious actors can craft User-Agent headers containing script tags or other HTML elements that get executed when the statistics page renders. The vulnerability specifically affects the statsRecent.inc.php module which is responsible for displaying recent traffic data, making it particularly dangerous as it directly impacts the user-facing statistics interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even inject phishing content. The attack surface is broad since User-Agent headers are commonly sent by web browsers, mobile applications, and automated tools, meaning that any interaction with the vulnerable phpTrafficA instance could potentially be exploited. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications. Attackers can leverage this weakness to compromise user sessions, steal sensitive information, or manipulate the analytics data displayed to legitimate users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. System administrators should upgrade to phpTrafficA version 2.4 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper header sanitization. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide defense-in-depth protection against XSS attacks. Organizations should also consider deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious User-Agent patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and ATT&CK framework techniques related to web application vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be implemented to prevent similar issues in other components of the web application stack, ensuring that all user-provided data undergoes proper sanitization before being processed or displayed in web interfaces.