CVE-2015-2944 in Sling API
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Apache Sling API before 2.2.2 and Apache Sling Servlets Post before 2.1.2 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the URI, related to (1) org/apache/sling/api/servlets/HtmlResponse and (2) org/apache/sling/servlets/post/HtmlResponse.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2015-2944 represents a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability affecting Apache Sling API versions prior to 2.2.2 and Apache Sling Servlets Post versions prior to 2.1.2. This flaw resides in the HTML response handling mechanisms of these Apache content management frameworks, specifically within the org/apache/sling/api/servlets/HtmlResponse and org/apache/sling/servlets/post/HtmlResponse classes. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications that utilize these components, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on Apache Sling for their web content management infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the HTML response generation process. When Apache Sling processes URI parameters and other user-supplied data, it fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This improper handling occurs during the rendering of HTML responses, where user input flows directly into the output without adequate protection mechanisms. The vulnerability manifests when attackers craft malicious URIs containing script tags or other malicious content that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers who access the affected application. This type of flaw falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where improper sanitization of user-supplied data leads to execution of malicious scripts.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2944 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, deface websites, steal sensitive user information, or redirect users to malicious sites. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the victim's browser, potentially compromising user sessions, accessing sensitive data, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of Apache Sling's API and Servlets Post components, which are widely used in enterprise content management systems, making the attack surface particularly broad. Organizations using these versions of Apache Sling are exposed to persistent threats that could compromise their entire web application infrastructure, especially when these components are used in conjunction with other vulnerable applications within the same ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-2944 primarily involve immediate upgrade to patched versions of Apache Sling API 2.2.2 and Apache Sling Servlets Post 2.1.2, which contain proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Security teams should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures, including the use of proper HTML escaping libraries and content security policies to prevent script execution. Organizations should also deploy web application firewalls and implement strict URI validation to filter out malicious input patterns. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1165 which covers the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities for code injection, and organizations should consider implementing runtime application self-protection measures as additional defense layers. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the Apache Sling ecosystem, as this particular flaw demonstrates the importance of proper input/output handling in web frameworks.