CVE-2015-3425 in Content Resource Management System
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Accentis Content Resource Management System before October 2015 patch allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the ctl00$cph_content$_uig_formState parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2024
The CVE-2015-3425 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Accentis Content Resource Management System that existed prior to the October 2015 security patch release. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically manifesting as a reflected XSS attack vector that enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts in the context of victim browsers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects a content management system that likely handles sensitive organizational data and user interactions, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise user sessions or exfiltrate information.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the ctl00$cph_content$_uig_formState parameter, which serves as a form state identifier within the web application's user interface components. This parameter is likely used to maintain application state during user interactions and form submissions, but due to insufficient input validation and output encoding, attackers can inject malicious script code that gets executed when the parameter value is rendered back to users. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS because the malicious payload is reflected off the web server and delivered to the victim's browser without being stored on the server, making it particularly effective for phishing attacks and session hijacking.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, redirect users to malicious sites, and potentially execute more sophisticated attacks such as CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery) or data exfiltration. Given that content management systems often handle administrative functions and user data, successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of the affected web application and potentially the underlying network infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers do not require physical access or local network privileges to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where such systems are publicly accessible.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in form state management and UI component handling. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against script execution. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.008 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically web shell execution, and T1566 for Phishing, as attackers may use the vulnerability to craft convincing phishing campaigns. Regular security patch management processes should be enforced, and the application should undergo comprehensive security testing including dynamic application security testing (DAST) and input validation reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parameters and components of the system.