CVE-2015-5529 in Free Reprintables ArticleFR
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Free Reprintables ArticleFR 3.0.6 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) name parameter to dashboard/settings/categories/, (2) title or (3) rel parameter to dashboard/settings/links/, or (4) url parameter to dashboard/tools/pingservers/.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2025
The CVE-2015-5529 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting the Free Reprintables ArticleFR 3.0.6 web application. This vulnerability manifests across multiple endpoints within the application's administrative dashboard, specifically targeting parameters used for content management and configuration. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within web pages. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to inject malicious scripts into the application's interface, potentially compromising user sessions and executing unauthorized actions on behalf of victims.
The technical exploitation occurs through four distinct attack vectors that all share the common weakness of insufficient parameter sanitization. The first vector targets the name parameter within the dashboard/settings/categories/ endpoint, allowing attackers to inject malicious content during category management operations. The second and third vectors target the title and rel parameters respectively in the dashboard/settings/links/ endpoint, enabling injection during link management activities. The fourth vector operates through the url parameter in the dashboard/tools/pingservers/ endpoint, which handles server ping functionality. Each of these parameters receives user input without proper validation, creating opportunities for attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive administrative functions within the ArticleFR application. When authenticated users interact with pages containing maliciously injected content, their browser sessions become compromised, potentially allowing attackers to modify content, access restricted areas, or perform administrative actions. The vulnerability affects the entire user base that interacts with the administrative interface, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple administrators maintain the content management system. The persistence of the vulnerability across multiple endpoints suggests a systemic issue in the application's input handling architecture rather than isolated code flaws.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 technique for command and scripting interpreter. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges since it targets the application's administrative interface, making it particularly attractive to attackers seeking to escalate privileges or establish persistent access. Organizations using Free Reprintables ArticleFR 3.0.6 should prioritize immediate remediation through parameter validation, output encoding, and input sanitization measures. The recommended mitigations include implementing comprehensive input validation routines, applying proper HTML encoding to all user-supplied content before rendering, and conducting thorough security reviews of all application parameters to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and regular security testing can provide additional layers of protection against such injection attacks.