CVE-2015-6588 in Revolution
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in login-fsp.html in MODX Revolution before 1.9.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the QUERY_STRING.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2022
The CVE-2015-6588 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in MODX Revolution content management systems prior to version 1.9.1. This vulnerability specifically affects the login-fsp.html component and resides within the query string parameter handling mechanism. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code directly through the URL parameters, creating a persistent security risk for affected installations. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic input validation failure where user-supplied data from the QUERY_STRING is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered back to the user's browser. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws identified by the CWE project.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within the query string parameters of the login-fsp.html page. When the authenticated user or administrator navigates to this crafted URL, the malicious script executes in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the compromised system. The vulnerability's impact is amplified because it affects the login page, which is typically accessed by legitimate users with elevated privileges, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to gain unauthorized access or escalate their privileges. The flaw represents a failure in proper output encoding and input validation, where the application does not adequately filter or escape user-controllable data before incorporating it into dynamic web content.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-6588 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session manipulation attacks through the ATT&CK framework's technique T1548.001 for Account Access and T1566.001 for Phishing. Attackers could craft malicious links that, when clicked by administrators, would execute scripts that steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject additional malicious content into the application interface. The vulnerability affects organizations using MODX Revolution versions before 1.9.1, potentially compromising the integrity of their web applications and user data. Organizations that fail to patch this vulnerability face risks of unauthorized access, data exfiltration, and potential complete system compromise, especially when administrators interact with the vulnerable login interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-6588 primarily involve upgrading to MODX Revolution version 1.9.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation and output encoding issues. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout their web applications, following secure coding practices that align with OWASP Top Ten recommendations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing Content Security Policy headers and proper parameter sanitization to prevent XSS attacks. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments and maintain up-to-date patch management procedures to address similar vulnerabilities in their web applications. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the patched version to ensure that the XSS vulnerability is fully resolved and that no regressions have been introduced in the application's functionality.