CVE-2015-5660 in eXtplorer
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in eXtplorer before 2.1.8 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of arbitrary users for requests that execute PHP code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2022
The CVE-2015-5660 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in eXtplorer file management software prior to version 2.1.8. This vulnerability resides within the web application's authentication mechanism and allows remote attackers to manipulate authenticated sessions through maliciously crafted requests. The flaw specifically enables attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code on vulnerable systems by leveraging CSRF techniques to hijack legitimate user sessions. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of eXtplorer's user authentication system, where session tokens are not properly validated or verified during critical operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by constructing specially crafted web pages or links that, when visited by authenticated users, automatically submit requests to the vulnerable eXtplorer instance. These requests can perform actions such as file uploads, directory modifications, or code execution within the context of the victim's authenticated session, effectively bypassing normal authentication controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient CSRF token validation mechanisms within the application's PHP-based architecture. When users access certain administrative functions or perform file operations, the system should verify that requests originate from legitimate sources by checking CSRF tokens. However, in versions prior to 2.1.8, these validation checks were either absent or improperly implemented, allowing attackers to forge requests that appeared to come from authenticated users. This weakness aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities in web applications. The flaw operates at the application layer and requires minimal privileges to exploit, as it leverages existing authenticated sessions rather than requiring new authentication attempts. The vulnerability particularly impacts file management operations where PHP code execution capabilities are present, as attackers can utilize the forged requests to upload malicious files or execute commands on the target server.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5660 extends beyond simple session hijacking, as it enables full code execution capabilities on compromised systems. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can gain complete control over the affected eXtplorer instance and potentially the underlying server. The consequences include unauthorized file access, data modification or deletion, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within network environments where eXtplorer is deployed. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on eXtplorer for file management, particularly those with web-accessible file systems or shared hosting environments. The impact is particularly severe in environments where eXtplorer is configured with elevated privileges or where it provides access to sensitive organizational data repositories.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5660 primarily focus on immediate software updates and implementation of proper CSRF protection mechanisms. Organizations should upgrade to eXtplorer version 2.1.8 or later, which includes patched CSRF token validation routines and enhanced session management controls. Additionally, implementing proper CSRF token generation and validation for all state-changing operations within the application provides defense-in-depth protection. Network-level mitigations include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious request patterns, while application-level protections involve enforcing strict session management policies and validating all user inputs. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing comprehensive application security controls. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of web applications to identify similar CSRF weaknesses and ensure that all authentication mechanisms properly validate request origins. This vulnerability also highlights the necessity of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly focusing on preventing session hijacking and unauthorized privilege escalation attacks. Organizations should implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous user behavior patterns that may indicate successful exploitation of CSRF vulnerabilities.