CVE-2015-6960 in edx-platform
Summary
by MITRE
edx-platform before 2015-09-17 allows XSS via a team name.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6960 affects the edx-platform learning management system prior to version 2015-09-17, specifically targeting cross-site scripting vulnerabilities through team name inputs. This weakness enables malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into team names within the platform's collaborative learning environment, creating a significant security risk for educational institutions using the system. The vulnerability resides in the platform's insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms when processing team name parameters.
The technical flaw manifests when users create or modify team names in the edx-platform's collaborative features, where the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages. This inadequate sanitization allows attackers to embed malicious script payloads within team names, which then execute in the context of other users' browsers when the team names are displayed. The vulnerability maps to CWE-79 Cross-site Scripting, specifically categorized under reflected XSS when team names are rendered without proper HTML escaping. The attack vector typically involves an attacker creating a team with malicious JavaScript code embedded in the team name, which then gets executed when other users view the team listing or details page.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. Educational institutions using edx-platform may experience compromised user sessions, data exfiltration, and potential system compromise if attackers leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access. The vulnerability affects the platform's collaborative features where team names are displayed in various contexts such as course discussions, group projects, and team member listings. Attackers can exploit this weakness to inject malicious scripts that could steal cookies, modify page content, or redirect users to phishing sites, making it particularly dangerous in educational environments where users may trust the platform's interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-6960 involve implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures to prevent malicious script injection. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied input, particularly team names and other collaborative content, undergoes proper sanitization before storage and rendering. The recommended approach includes implementing strict input validation that filters out potentially dangerous characters and patterns, combined with proper HTML escaping when displaying user content. Additionally, organizations should deploy content security policies to limit script execution and implement regular security updates to address known vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 Credential Access: Phishing for Credentials, as attackers can use XSS to capture user credentials through session hijacking. The remediation process should include updating to edx-platform version 2015-09-17 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for input sanitization and output encoding. Security teams should also conduct regular penetration testing and code reviews focusing on user input handling to identify similar vulnerabilities in other platform components.