CVE-2015-9288 in Web Player Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The Unity Web Player plugin before 4.6.6f2 and 5.x before 5.0.3f2 allows attackers to read messages or access online services via a victim's credentials
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2020
The CVE-2015-9288 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the Unity Web Player plugin that affected versions prior to 4.6.6f2 and 5.x versions before 5.0.3f2. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of authentication and authorization mechanisms within the plugin's architecture, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit user credentials and gain unauthorized access to online services. The issue specifically manifests when the Unity Web Player fails to properly validate or sanitize user inputs, particularly in contexts where authentication tokens or session identifiers are processed. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284, which deals with inadequate access control, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access through social engineering or exploitation of web applications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a combination of cross-site scripting and authentication bypass mechanisms that allow attackers to inject malicious code into web pages that utilize the Unity Web Player. When a victim visits a compromised webpage containing malicious Unity content, the plugin's insecure implementation enables attackers to intercept or manipulate authentication tokens that are typically used to verify user credentials. The flaw exploits the trust relationship between the Unity plugin and web applications, allowing unauthorized access to services that should require proper authentication. This creates a scenario where attackers can impersonate legitimate users and access protected resources, potentially leading to data breaches, service abuse, or further lateral movement within compromised networks.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-9288 extends beyond simple credential theft, as it can enable attackers to perform actions that require authenticated access to online services. Organizations using Unity Web Player plugins in their web applications face significant risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data, particularly in environments where the plugin is used for interactive web content, gaming applications, or business-critical web services. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in complete compromise of user accounts and potentially lead to broader security incidents within the organization's attack surface. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where the Unity Web Player is used for internal applications or services that require elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-9288 primarily focus on immediate patching of affected Unity Web Player versions, with organizations urged to upgrade to versions 4.6.6f2 or 5.0.3f2 and later. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring for any unauthorized access attempts or suspicious network traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include implementing strict content security policies, disabling Unity Web Player plugins in web browsers where they are not required, and conducting thorough security assessments of web applications that utilize the plugin. Organizations should also consider network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while maintaining regular security updates and vulnerability assessments to prevent similar issues from arising in the future. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and authentication handling in web-based applications and plugins, aligning with industry best practices for secure coding and defense-in-depth strategies.