CVE-2015-9285 in esoTalk
Summary
by MITRE
esoTalk 1.0.0g4 has XSS via the PATH_INFO to the conversations/ URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9285 affects esoTalk version 1.0.0g4 and represents a cross-site scripting flaw that exploits the application's handling of PATH_INFO parameters within the conversations/ URI endpoint. This issue falls under the broader category of web application security vulnerabilities that can enable attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The flaw specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied input that is processed through the PATH_INFO component of the web server's request handling mechanism.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the esoTalk application framework. When users navigate to conversations/ URI paths with maliciously crafted PATH_INFO parameters, the application does not sufficiently filter or escape these inputs before incorporating them into dynamically generated HTML content. This creates an environment where attacker-controlled data can be executed as scripts within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the PATH_INFO server variable which is commonly used in URL rewriting and RESTful API implementations, making it a prevalent vector in modern web applications.
From an operational impact perspective, this XSS vulnerability enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious websites. An attacker could craft a specially formatted URL that, when visited by a victim user, would execute malicious JavaScript code in the victim's browser. This code could steal session cookies, modify page content, or redirect users to phishing sites that appear legitimate. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where users have administrative privileges or access to sensitive data, as it could potentially lead to complete system compromise. The attack requires minimal technical expertise and can be executed through simple URL manipulation, making it a significant threat vector that affects user trust and application integrity.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content. Mitigation strategies should include implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application, particularly for all user-supplied data that may be rendered in HTML contexts. Developers should employ context-specific encoding techniques such as HTML entity encoding for output, and implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. Additionally, the application should validate and sanitize all PATH_INFO parameters before processing them, and implement proper access controls to prevent unauthorized manipulation of application parameters. Regular security testing including automated vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues. The patch for this vulnerability would involve updating the esoTalk application to properly sanitize PATH_INFO inputs and ensure that all dynamic content generation includes appropriate security measures to prevent script injection attacks.