CVE-2015-4673 in ClipBucket
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in ClipBucket 2.7.0.5 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the collection_description parameter to upload/manage_collections.php in an add_new action or the (2) photo_description, (3) photo_tags, or (4) photo_title parameter to upload/actions/photo_uploader.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2020
The CVE-2015-4673 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in ClipBucket version 2.7.0.5, a popular open-source video sharing platform. This vulnerability affects multiple parameters within the application's upload and management functionalities, creating significant security risks for authenticated users who can exploit these weaknesses to inject malicious scripts into the platform. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the application's core components, particularly in the collection and photo upload handling modules.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through four distinct attack vectors that exploit the application's failure to properly sanitize user inputs. The first vector targets the collection_description parameter within the upload/manage_collections.php script during an add_new action, while the remaining three vectors target photo_description, photo_tags, and photo_title parameters in the upload/actions/photo_uploader.php script. These parameters are processed without adequate validation or encoding, allowing malicious users to inject HTML content that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers. This represents a classic persistent XSS vulnerability where user-supplied content is stored and subsequently served to other users without proper sanitization.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-4673 extends beyond simple script injection, creating potential for severe consequences including session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized access to user accounts. Attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to execute malicious scripts that can steal cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability affects the platform's integrity and confidentiality, as it allows attackers to manipulate content displayed to other users and potentially escalate privileges within the application. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to sanitize user inputs that are later rendered in web pages.
From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers can craft malicious payloads that appear legitimate within the platform's user interface. The authenticated nature of this vulnerability means that attackers need only compromise a single user account to begin exploiting the system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact with shared content. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious input containing script tags that are then stored in the database and executed when other users view the affected content.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-4673 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application. Organizations should implement strict sanitization of all user inputs before processing, particularly for parameters related to content descriptions, titles, and tags. The recommended approach involves implementing Content Security Policy headers, using proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content, and implementing input validation frameworks that reject potentially malicious payloads. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to web application security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten project, particularly focusing on input validation and output encoding as fundamental security controls.