CVE-2015-3012 in WebODF
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in WebODF before 0.5.5, as used in ownCloud, allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a (1) style or (2) font name or (3) javascript or (4) data URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-3012 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting WebODF versions prior to 0.5.5, which was widely utilized within the ownCloud platform for document editing capabilities. This vulnerability exposes web applications to malicious injection attacks that can compromise user sessions and execute unauthorized code within the victim's browser context. The flaw specifically manifests in how the WebODF library processes user-supplied input during document rendering and editing operations, creating multiple attack vectors that can be exploited by remote threat actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and validation mechanisms within the WebODF library's handling of document styling attributes and font specifications. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious style names, font definitions, or embedding javascript code within document elements that get processed and rendered without proper security filtering. The vulnerability encompasses four distinct attack vectors including style name manipulation, font name injection, javascript code injection, and data URI exploitation, each representing different entry points where malicious content can be introduced into the document processing pipeline. This multi-vector approach significantly increases the attack surface and makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as defenders must protect against multiple potential injection points.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3012 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user data, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even execute arbitrary commands within the context of the victim's browser session. When integrated into platforms like ownCloud, this vulnerability becomes particularly dangerous as it can be exploited against authenticated users who are editing documents, potentially compromising entire document repositories and user credentials. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed software ecosystems means that successful exploitation can affect numerous users simultaneously, making it a high-priority security concern for organizations relying on web-based document editing capabilities.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through updating to WebODF version 0.5.5 or later, which includes comprehensive input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Security measures should also incorporate additional layers of protection such as content security policies, input filtering at multiple levels, and regular security assessments of third-party components. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting) and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 (Scripting) and T1566.001 (Phishing with Malicious Attachment), demonstrating the comprehensive attack surface this flaw creates. Regular security monitoring and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts, while user education regarding suspicious document attachments remains crucial for preventing successful attacks. The remediation process must also include thorough testing of updated systems to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing document processing workflows.