CVE-2015-7324 in Komento
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in helpers/comment.php in the StackIdeas Komento (com_komento) component before 2.0.5 for Joomla! allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) img or (2) url tag of a new comment.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2015-7324 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the StackIdeas Komento component for Joomla!, specifically within the helpers/comment.php file. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 2.0.5 and exposes web applications to remote code execution through malicious script injection. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input during comment processing, particularly in handling image and URL tags within comment content. Attackers can exploit this weakness by submitting malicious payloads through comment forms, which then get executed in the browsers of other users who view these comments, creating a persistent XSS attack vector.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the Komento component's comment handling mechanism. When users submit comments containing img or url tags with malicious content, the system does not properly escape or filter these elements before rendering them on web pages. This failure directly maps to CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is improperly handled during web page generation. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through standard web browser interactions, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no special privileges or complex attack vectors.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7324 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to phishing sites. When executed successfully, the XSS payload can steal user cookies, which contain session information that allows attackers to impersonate legitimate users. The vulnerability affects all users of vulnerable Joomla! installations that utilize the Komento component, potentially compromising entire user bases and undermining the security posture of websites that rely on user-generated content. This type of vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531, which covers "Establishment of Command and Control Channels" through web application exploitation, and T1071.001, covering "Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols" in malicious web traffic.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the remediation measures provided in the Komento 2.0.5 update, which includes comprehensive input sanitization and output encoding for comment content. Additional mitigation strategies should involve implementing Content Security Policy headers to restrict script execution, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conducting thorough security audits of all third-party Joomla! components. Regular security assessments and patch management procedures should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from arising in the future. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in web applications, particularly when handling user-generated content, and serves as a reminder of the potential consequences when security controls are insufficiently implemented.