CVE-2015-7706 in SDS-API
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Secure Data Space SDS-API before 3.5.7 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) PATH_INFO to api/v3/public/shares/downloads/, the (2) authType parameter to api/v3/auth/login, or the (3) login parameter to api/v3/auth/reset_password.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2022
The CVE-2015-7706 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Secure Data Space SDS-API versions prior to 3.5.7. This vulnerability manifests across three distinct attack vectors within the application's API endpoints, creating multiple pathways for remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of legitimate user sessions. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing or rendering within web responses. These flaws create persistent security risks that can be exploited without requiring authentication or privileged access, making them particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where data security is paramount.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves three primary attack vectors that demonstrate poor security practices in input handling. The first vector targets the PATH_INFO parameter in the api/v3/public/shares/downloads/ endpoint, where unfiltered user input can be injected into the application's internal path processing logic. The second vector exploits the authType parameter within the api/v3/auth/login endpoint, allowing attackers to manipulate authentication flow parameters through malicious script injection. The third vector targets the login parameter in the api/v3/auth/reset_password endpoint, where password reset functionality becomes a conduit for XSS attacks. All three vectors share a common root cause: inadequate sanitization of user-provided parameters before they are processed or returned in web responses, violating fundamental security principles of input validation and output encoding.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7706 extends beyond simple script injection, as successful exploitation can lead to complete session hijacking, data theft, and privilege escalation within the affected system. Attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to steal user credentials, access sensitive data, or redirect users to malicious sites that appear legitimate. The implications are particularly severe in environments where the Secure Data Space API handles confidential information, as the vulnerabilities can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to protected data repositories. The persistent nature of these flaws means that once exploited, attackers can maintain access and continue to leverage the vulnerabilities across multiple user sessions, creating long-term security risks that are difficult to detect and remediate. Organizations using affected versions of the SDS-API are particularly vulnerable to advanced persistent threats that can establish footholds within their networks through these injection points.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7706 should focus on immediate patching of the affected SDS-API to version 3.5.7 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation across all API endpoints, ensuring that all user-supplied parameters are properly sanitized before processing. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper output encoding mechanisms should be enforced throughout the application to prevent script execution in response contexts. Security teams should conduct thorough code reviews focusing on parameter handling within authentication and file sharing endpoints, as these areas are particularly susceptible to injection attacks. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious API traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, and regular vulnerability scanning should be performed to identify similar weaknesses in other system components. These measures align with CWE-79 standards for cross-site scripting prevention and support ATT&CK techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation through web application vulnerabilities.