CVE-2015-6748 in jsoup
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in jsoup before 1.8.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2024
The cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6748 affects the jsoup library, a popular Java library for working with HTML documents and parsing HTML content. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to 1.8.3 and represents a critical security flaw that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications that utilize jsoup for HTML processing. The jsoup library is widely used in enterprise applications, web frameworks, and content management systems where HTML sanitization and processing are required. The vulnerability specifically impacts applications that process untrusted HTML input through jsoup's parsing capabilities, creating potential attack vectors for malicious actors seeking to exploit XSS weaknesses in web applications.
The technical flaw manifests in jsoup's handling of HTML attributes and content during the parsing process, where the library fails to adequately sanitize or escape certain HTML elements and attributes that could contain malicious script code. This occurs particularly when jsoup processes HTML content that includes script tags, event handlers, or other potentially dangerous HTML constructs without proper sanitization mechanisms. The vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of the victim's browser when the malformed HTML is rendered. This flaw falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities, where improper neutralization of input during web page generation creates opportunities for attackers to inject client-side scripts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations using jsoup in their web applications, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, defacement of web pages, and redirection to malicious sites. When exploited, the vulnerability can allow attackers to steal user cookies, credentials, and other sensitive information from authenticated users. The attack surface is particularly wide since jsoup is integrated into numerous Java-based web applications, content management systems, and enterprise solutions where HTML content is processed and sanitized. Organizations may face regulatory compliance issues and potential data breaches if this vulnerability remains unpatched, as it directly violates security best practices for web application development and input validation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-6748 primarily involve upgrading to jsoup version 1.8.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all applications and systems that utilize affected versions of jsoup, ensuring that proper patch management procedures are implemented across the organization. Additional defensive measures include implementing Content Security Policy headers, employing proper HTML sanitization techniques, and conducting regular security testing of web applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security risks, particularly focusing on the prevention of XSS attacks through proper output encoding and sanitization of user-provided content. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain security posture against similar vulnerabilities in other libraries and frameworks.