CVE-2015-7370 in Adserver
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in open-flash-chart.swf in Open Flash Chart 2, as used in the VideoAds plugin in Revive Adserver before 3.2.2, allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) id or (2) data-file parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7370 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the open-flash-chart.swf component of Open Flash Chart 2, which was extensively utilized in the VideoAds plugin of Revive Adserver. This vulnerability emerged in versions prior to 3.2.2 and exposed web applications to significant security risks through the improper handling of user-supplied input parameters. The affected software component was designed to render dynamic charts and graphs within web browsers, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking to exploit web application vulnerabilities. The flaw specifically manifested in the manner in which the application processed the id and data-file parameters, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code that would execute within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the flash-based chart rendering component. When the open-flash-chart.swf file processed the id parameter or data-file parameter, it failed to properly escape or filter user-provided content before incorporating it into the generated HTML output. This lack of proper sanitization created a pathway for attackers to embed malicious JavaScript code within these parameters, which would then be executed when other users viewed the affected charts. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and represents a classic case of improper output encoding where untrusted data enters the application through a user input field and is subsequently rendered without adequate protection mechanisms. The attack vector was particularly dangerous because it allowed remote exploitation without requiring authentication or specialized privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7370 extended far beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it enabled attackers to potentially steal user sessions, deface web pages, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute arbitrary commands within the victim's browser context. In the context of Revive Adserver, which was commonly used for digital advertising and content management, this vulnerability posed significant risks to both advertisers and end users. Attackers could leverage the XSS flaw to inject malicious scripts that would target specific user groups or demographics, potentially leading to widespread compromise of advertising campaigns. The vulnerability also created opportunities for credential theft, as attackers could craft payloads designed to capture user login information or session cookies. Additionally, the nature of the VideoAds plugin meant that compromised charts could affect numerous websites simultaneously, amplifying the potential impact of a successful attack.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7370 required immediate attention from system administrators and security teams responsible for maintaining Revive Adserver installations. The most effective solution involved upgrading to version 3.2.2 or later, which included proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms to prevent malicious content from being processed by the open-flash-chart.swf component. Organizations should have implemented comprehensive input filtering at multiple levels, including server-side validation of all parameters passed to the charting component, and proper HTML escaping of dynamic content. Security teams were advised to conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their web applications to identify similar XSS vulnerabilities in other components, as this flaw demonstrated how flash-based components could serve as attack vectors. Network security measures such as web application firewalls could provide additional protection layers, though the fundamental fix required updating the vulnerable software components. The incident highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party libraries and plugins, as well as implementing robust security testing procedures that include dynamic analysis of web applications to identify potential XSS vulnerabilities before they could be exploited in the wild. Organizations should have also considered implementing content security policies and other browser-based security controls as part of their defense-in-depth strategy.