CVE-2015-3219 in Dashboard
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Orchestration/Stack section in OpenStack Dashboard (Horizon) 2014.2 before 2014.2.4 and 2015.1.x before 2015.1.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the description parameter in a heat template, which is not properly handled in the help_text attribute in the Field class.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2022
The CVE-2015-3219 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the OpenStack Dashboard component known as Horizon. This vulnerability specifically affects the Orchestration/Stack section of the dashboard and impacts versions released in 2014.2 and 2015.1.x prior to their respective patch releases of 2014.2.4 and 2015.1.1. The security flaw stems from improper handling of user-supplied input within the heat template description parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated users' browsers. The vulnerability manifests when the help_text attribute in the Field class fails to properly sanitize or escape the description parameter, allowing attackers to inject malicious content that persists in the user interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of the heat template functionality within OpenStack's orchestration system. When users create or modify stack templates, they can provide descriptions that are subsequently rendered in the help_text attribute of the Field class. The lack of proper input validation and output sanitization in this specific component creates a persistent XSS vector where attacker-controlled content can be executed in the browser of any user who views the affected template details. This flaw operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1059.005 for command and scripting interpreter. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic input validation failure where user-provided data flows directly into the user interface without adequate sanitization, creating a direct path for malicious code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3219 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user credentials, or redirect victims to malicious websites. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could craft a heat template with malicious description content that, when viewed by an authenticated user, would execute malicious JavaScript within that user's browser context. This could lead to unauthorized access to cloud resources, data exfiltration, or further compromise of the OpenStack environment. The vulnerability affects the entire Horizon dashboard user base, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no special privileges beyond access to the orchestration functionality. The security implications are significant given that Horizon serves as the primary web interface for OpenStack administrators and users, making this a high-value target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to cloud infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-3219 primarily involve applying the vendor-provided patches and updates that address the specific input validation and output sanitization issues within the Field class implementation. Organizations should immediately upgrade to the patched versions of OpenStack Dashboard 2014.2.4 and 2015.1.1 to remediate this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization measures and output encoding in the affected components can serve as defensive measures. Security monitoring should include inspection of heat template descriptions for suspicious patterns and regular vulnerability scanning of the dashboard components. The remediation process should also involve reviewing and updating security policies to ensure proper validation of all user-supplied content within web applications, particularly in areas where dynamic content rendering occurs. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies as additional protective layers against similar vulnerabilities in the future.