CVE-2015-6544 in iTop
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in application/dashboard.class.inc.php in Combodo iTop before 2.2.0-2459 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a dashboard title.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2015-6544 represents a cross-site scripting flaw located in the application/dashboard.class.inc.php file of Combodo iTop version 2.2.0 and earlier. This issue enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code through manipulation of dashboard titles, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this IT service management platform. The flaw specifically affects the input validation mechanisms within the dashboard title parameter processing, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that persist and execute within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input in the dashboard title field. When administrators or users create or modify dashboards, the application fails to properly validate and escape special characters in the title parameter before rendering it in web pages. This weakness directly maps to CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as the improper validation of input data that allows attackers to inject executable code into web applications. The vulnerability exists at the application layer where user input transitions into rendered HTML content without adequate security controls to prevent code injection.
Operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to complete session hijacking, data theft, and unauthorized administrative access. An attacker could craft malicious dashboard titles that, when viewed by other users, would execute scripts to steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The attack vector requires minimal privileges since the vulnerability is accessible to any user with dashboard creation or modification capabilities, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have administrative access. This vulnerability could facilitate lateral movement within organizations and provide attackers with persistent access to sensitive IT service management data.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the application to version 2.2.0-2459 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures, including HTML escaping of all user-supplied content before rendering, and establish strict validation rules for dashboard title parameters. Network segmentation and monitoring of dashboard creation activities can provide additional layers of defense. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities and conduct regular security assessments of the iTop platform to identify similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious code through web-based interfaces, emphasizing the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in preventing such attacks.