CVE-2017-15362 in osTicket
Summary
by MITRE
osTicket 1.10.1 allows arbitrary client-side JavaScript code execution on victims who click a crafted support/scp/tickets.php?status= link, aka XSS. Session ID and data theft may follow as well as the possibility of bypassing CSRF protections, injection of iframes to establish communication channels, etc. The vulnerability is present after login into the application. This affects a different tickets.php file than CVE-2015-1176.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15362 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in osTicket version 1.10.1 that specifically targets the support/scp/tickets.php endpoint. This vulnerability operates through a crafted URL parameter where the status= value is manipulated to inject malicious javascript code into the victim's browser session. The flaw exists within the application's handling of user-supplied input that is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered in the web interface, creating a persistent XSS vector that can be exploited by attackers who can influence the target user's navigation to the vulnerable page.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an authenticated user clicks on a maliciously crafted link that directs them to the tickets.php page with a specially constructed status parameter. The application fails to validate or escape the input data before incorporating it into the HTML response, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary javascript code that executes within the victim's browser context. This vulnerability specifically affects the tickets.php file and operates independently from the CVE-2015-1176 vulnerability that impacted a different tickets.php file, indicating multiple attack vectors within the same application component. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it requires only a simple click from an authenticated user, bypassing the need for more complex social engineering techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple script execution, creating a comprehensive attack surface that can facilitate session hijacking, credential theft, and broader system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session identifiers and other sensitive data from authenticated users, potentially gaining unauthorized access to administrative functions or sensitive customer information. The vulnerability also enables bypassing CSRF protections that are typically in place to prevent unauthorized actions, as the malicious javascript can execute within the legitimate user's authenticated session. Additionally, the injected javascript can establish communication channels through iframe injection, allowing attackers to create persistent backdoors or exfiltrate data through covert channels that are difficult to detect.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566 for initial access through spearphishing with malicious links. The attack vector demonstrates how authenticated vulnerabilities can be exploited to create persistent threats within an organization's network, as the compromised user session can be used to access sensitive information, modify data, or perform administrative actions. Organizations using osTicket 1.10.1 should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and proper parameter sanitization for all user-supplied data. The recommended remediation approach involves implementing strict input validation for the status parameter in the tickets.php endpoint, ensuring that all user input is properly escaped before being rendered in the web interface, and implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts. Regular security audits and application patching procedures should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future versions of the application.