CVE-2015-4725 in AudioShare
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in forgot.php in AudioShare 2.0.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the email parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2019
The CVE-2015-4725 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the AudioShare 2.0.2 web application, specifically within the forgot.php component. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security weaknesses identified by the CWE project. The flaw exists in the password reset functionality where the application fails to properly sanitize user input received through the email parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the forgot.php script. When users submit their email addresses for password recovery, the application processes this input without sufficient sanitization measures, allowing attackers to inject malicious script code directly into the email parameter. This injection can occur through various means including javascript payloads, html tags, or other malicious code sequences that are then executed when the application displays the email address in its response or logs. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS attack since the malicious payload is reflected back to the user through the application's response without being stored on the server.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-4725 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, redirect victims to malicious websites, or even execute commands on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability specifically targets the password reset mechanism, which is often a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise user accounts. Attackers can craft malicious email addresses containing script tags that, when processed by the vulnerable application, will execute in the browsers of unsuspecting users who receive password reset emails. This creates a significant risk for user data confidentiality and system integrity, as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to user accounts and potential lateral movement within the application's user base.
Security professionals should implement comprehensive mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and proper sanitization of all user-supplied data before processing or displaying it within the application. The recommended defense-in-depth strategies include implementing Content Security Policy headers, using parameterized queries to prevent injection attacks, and conducting regular security code reviews focusing on input handling. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Phishing and T1531 for Account Access Removal, as it enables attackers to compromise user accounts through social engineering and credential theft. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls, regular penetration testing, and comprehensive user education about suspicious email communications to prevent exploitation of such vulnerabilities. The fix requires ensuring that all user input is properly escaped or encoded before being processed by the application, particularly in contexts where the data might be displayed in web pages or used in dynamic content generation.