CVE-2015-6972 in Openfire
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Ignite Realtime Openfire 3.10.2 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) groupchatName parameter to plugins/clientcontrol/create-bookmark.jsp; the (2) urlName parameter to plugins/clientcontrol/create-bookmark.jsp; the (3) hostname parameter to server-session-details.jsp; or the (4) search parameter to group-summary.jsp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2024
The CVE-2015-6972 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Ignite Realtime Openfire version 3.10.2, a widely deployed XMPP server implementation that serves as the backbone for instant messaging and real-time communication systems. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within several key administrative and user interface components of the Openfire web administration console. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially leading to complete compromise of the messaging infrastructure and unauthorized access to sensitive communication data. The vulnerability specifically targets four distinct parameters across different.jsp files within the web application, demonstrating a systemic weakness in the application's data handling and output encoding practices.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through four distinct attack vectors that leverage the application's insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input. The first vector targets the groupchatName parameter in the plugins/clientcontrol/create-bookmark.jsp endpoint, where malicious input can be injected to create persistent XSS payloads within the bookmark creation functionality. The second vector exploits the urlName parameter in the same endpoint, allowing attackers to inject scripts into URL-based bookmark entries. The third vulnerability resides in the hostname parameter of server-session-details.jsp, where unfiltered input can be rendered in server session information displays. The fourth and final vector targets the search parameter in group-summary.jsp, enabling attackers to inject malicious scripts through search functionality. Each of these attack vectors operates through the fundamental principle of XSS where user-controllable data is directly rendered into web pages without proper HTML encoding or validation, creating opportunities for script execution in victim browsers.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-6972 extends far beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the Openfire environment. An attacker who successfully exploits any of these vectors can potentially access the administrative console, modify user permissions, create malicious chat rooms, or even establish persistent backdoors within the messaging infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning for organizations relying on Openfire for enterprise communication, as it could enable attackers to monitor sensitive conversations, compromise user identities, and gain unauthorized access to the entire XMPP server infrastructure. The persistent nature of these vulnerabilities means that malicious payloads can remain active for extended periods, continuously compromising users who access the affected pages. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and secure input validation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script injection and T1566 for credential access through social engineering, as attackers can leverage the XSS to harvest user sessions and credentials.
Organizations affected by CVE-2015-6972 should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to protect their Openfire installations. The most critical immediate action involves applying the vendor-provided security patch or upgrading to a patched version of Openfire that addresses these XSS vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application can help prevent similar issues in the future. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit access to the administrative console to trusted personnel only, while regular security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to provide additional protection against XSS attacks, and establish monitoring procedures to detect suspicious activity in the messaging infrastructure. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and the need for regular security assessments of communication infrastructure components, particularly those handling user input in web-based administrative interfaces.