CVE-2015-7565 in Ember.js
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Ember.js 1.8.x through 1.10.x, 1.11.x before 1.11.4, 1.12.x before 1.12.2, 1.13.x before 1.13.12, 2.0.x before 2.0.3, 2.1.x before 2.1.2, and 2.2.x before 2.2.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2020
The CVE-2015-7565 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Ember.js JavaScript framework that affected multiple version ranges from 1.8.x through 2.2.x. This vulnerability resides in the framework's handling of user input and template rendering processes, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into web applications built with Ember.js. The flaw specifically impacts applications that process untrusted input through Ember's templating system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user-generated content is displayed without proper sanitization. The vulnerability has been classified under CWE-79 as Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that allows attackers to inject malicious content into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within Ember.js's template compilation and rendering mechanisms. When applications using affected Ember.js versions process user-supplied data through template expressions or attributes, the framework fails to properly escape or sanitize the content before rendering it to the browser. This occurs particularly in scenarios where developers rely on Ember's automatic binding features or when template helpers receive untrusted input without proper security measures. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious input that, when processed by Ember's templating engine, gets executed as JavaScript code in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability affects both server-side and client-side rendering paths within the framework, making it challenging to mitigate through simple input filtering approaches.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7565 extends far beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially compromising user accounts, stealing session cookies, or modifying application behavior. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in web applications that handle sensitive user data or provide administrative functionality, as it could allow attackers to escalate privileges or access restricted resources. The widespread adoption of Ember.js across enterprise applications and web platforms means that this vulnerability could affect numerous organizations simultaneously, making it a high-priority security concern for system administrators and security teams responsible for maintaining web application security. Organizations using affected versions of Ember.js are exposed to persistent threats that can remain undetected for extended periods, as the injected scripts can persist in the application's rendered output and continue executing until the vulnerability is patched.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7565 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to patched releases of Ember.js, with the specific recommended versions being 1.11.4, 1.12.2, 1.13.12, 2.0.3, 2.1.2, and 2.2.1 respectively. System administrators should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all applications using affected Ember.js versions and prioritize patching efforts accordingly. Additionally, organizations should implement robust input validation and sanitization practices, particularly for user-generated content that gets processed through Ember templates. The use of Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls or security monitoring solutions that can detect and block suspicious script injection attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Scripting and T1566.001 for Phishing, as it enables attackers to execute malicious scripts and potentially deliver phishing attacks through compromised Ember.js applications. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure they can quickly identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in their web applications.