CVE-2015-5460 in Snorby
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in app/views/events/_menu.html.erb in Snorby 2.6.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the title (cls.name variable) when creating a classification.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2022
The CVE-2015-5460 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Snorby security information and event management platform version 2.6.2. This vulnerability exists in the application's view component located at app/views/events/_menu.html.erb, specifically targeting the handling of user-provided classification titles. The flaw manifests when attackers exploit the cls.name variable which processes the title parameter during classification creation, enabling malicious script injection directly into the web application's user interface.
This vulnerability operates through a classic server-side template injection pattern where unvalidated user input flows directly into the HTML rendering context without proper sanitization or encoding. The cls.name variable serves as the injection point where attackers can embed malicious JavaScript code or HTML payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it occurs during the classification creation process, which is a common administrative function that likely involves trusted users with elevated privileges, thereby amplifying the potential impact.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, redirect users to malicious sites, or even escalate privileges within the application. According to CWE-79, this vulnerability falls under the category of Cross-Site Scripting, which represents one of the most prevalent web application security flaws. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal privileges to exploit, as the vulnerability exists in a user-facing interface component that processes user input without adequate validation controls.
The security implications align with ATT&CK technique T1566, which describes social engineering attacks that manipulate users into executing malicious code through compromised web applications. This vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign input fields can become attack vectors when proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms are absent. The flaw also relates to CWE-80, which specifically addresses the improper neutralization of input during web output, highlighting the critical importance of implementing robust input sanitization and output encoding practices in web applications.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data flow. The most effective immediate fix involves sanitizing the cls.name variable before rendering it in the HTML template, ensuring that all user-provided content undergoes proper encoding to prevent script execution. Organizations should also implement Content Security Policy headers to provide additional defense-in-depth against XSS attacks. Regular security audits and automated vulnerability scanning should be integrated into the development lifecycle to identify similar issues in other application components. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing to ensure that the fix does not break legitimate functionality while effectively neutralizing the attack vector.