CVE-2016-15008 in coebot-www
Summary
by MITRE • 01/04/2023
A vulnerability was found in oxguy3 coebot-www and classified as problematic. This issue affects the function displayChannelCommands/displayChannelQuotes/displayChannelAutoreplies/showChannelHighlights/showChannelBoir of the file js/channel.js. The manipulation leads to cross site scripting. The attack may be initiated remotely. The name of the patch is c1a6c44092585da4236237e0e7da94ee2996a0ca. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-217355.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-15008 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the oxguy3 coebot-www web application. This security weakness resides in the js/channel.js file and specifically impacts multiple functions including displayChannelCommands, displayChannelQuotes, displayChannelAutoreplies, showChannelHighlights, and showChannelBoir. The flaw demonstrates a classic XSS vulnerability pattern where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being rendered in the web interface, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the application's output.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the affected JavaScript functions. When the application processes and displays channel-related data, it fails to properly escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code by web browsers. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that execute within the context of other users' browsers, potentially stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of victims. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can trigger the flaw through network-based interactions without requiring physical access to the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. Security researchers have classified this issue under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities in software applications. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these functions handle channel-related commands and quotes that are likely to be accessed by multiple users within collaborative environments. The vulnerability essentially allows for the execution of malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users, potentially leading to complete account compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive channel data.
The recommended remediation approach involves applying the specific patch identified as c1a6c44092585da4236237e0e7da94ee2996a0ca, which addresses the core input sanitization issues within the affected JavaScript functions. This patch should implement proper output encoding mechanisms that ensure any user-provided content is properly escaped before being rendered in the browser. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to add an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks. The vulnerability's classification as VDB-217355 indicates it was tracked through a vulnerability database, emphasizing the need for systematic vulnerability management processes. Security teams should conduct thorough code reviews of similar functions to identify and remediate potential variants of this vulnerability pattern, as the same coding practices that led to this issue may be present elsewhere in the codebase. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under T1211 - Exploitation for Defense Evasion, as the XSS attack could be used to establish persistent access or hide malicious activities within the application environment.