CVE-2015-3011 in ownCloud
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the contacts application in ownCloud Server Community Edition before 5.0.19, 6.x before 6.0.7, and 7.x before 7.0.5 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted contact.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-3011 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the contacts application of ownCloud Server Community Edition. This security weakness affects multiple versions including those prior to 5.0.19, 6.x versions before 6.0.7, and 7.x versions before 7.0.5, creating a widespread impact across the ownCloud user base. The vulnerability specifically resides in the contact management functionality where authenticated users can exploit the system to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content through crafted contact entries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the contacts application module. When authenticated users submit contact information containing malicious scripts, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before rendering it in web pages. This allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the compromised user accounts. The flaw operates under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web output, specifically targeting the failure to sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it enables attackers to leverage the authenticated user context for more sophisticated attacks. An attacker with valid credentials can craft malicious contact entries that, when viewed by other users, execute malicious code in their browsers. This creates a vector for privilege escalation attacks where attackers can potentially access sensitive contact information, manipulate user data, or use the compromised sessions to perform actions on behalf of legitimate users. The authenticated nature of the vulnerability means that attackers need only valid login credentials to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users have elevated privileges or access to sensitive data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-3011 focus on immediate patch deployment and input validation improvements. Organizations should prioritize updating their ownCloud installations to versions 5.0.19, 6.0.7, or 7.0.5 respectively, which contain the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization measures, including HTML escaping and content security policy enforcement, can provide additional defense in depth. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers scripting through web shells and malicious script execution, emphasizing the need for robust output encoding and input validation mechanisms. Network monitoring and intrusion detection systems should also be configured to detect suspicious contact data submissions that might indicate exploitation attempts, while user education regarding the risks of accepting untrusted contact information remains crucial for overall security posture.