CVE-2017-15648 in PHP Melody
Summary
by MITRE
In PHPSUGAR PHP Melody before 2.7.3, page_manager.php has XSS via the page_title parameter.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2017-15648 represents a cross-site scripting flaw in PHPSUGAR PHP Melody version 2.7.2 and earlier, specifically within the page_manager.php component. This issue arises from insufficient input validation and output sanitization of the page_title parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the application's response. The vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to execute scripts in the context of other users. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user-supplied data that is subsequently rendered in web pages without proper sanitization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing JavaScript code and submits it through the page_title parameter in the page_manager.php script. When the application processes this input and displays it in the web interface without adequate filtering or encoding, the injected script executes in the browser of any user who views the affected page. This creates a persistent XSS vector that can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the importance of implementing proper output encoding mechanisms for all user-supplied data that appears in web contexts.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-15648 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities within the application's context. An attacker could potentially steal administrator sessions, modify content, or redirect users to phishing sites that mimic legitimate application interfaces. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 Phishing, as it could be used to craft convincing phishing attacks that appear legitimate to users. Additionally, the flaw can contribute to broader compromise scenarios when combined with other vulnerabilities, as it provides a foothold for more sophisticated attacks. The impact is particularly concerning for content management systems where administrators frequently interact with user-generated content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15648 should focus on immediate patching of the affected PHPSUGAR PHP Melody application to version 2.7.3 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout their web applications, particularly for parameters that are directly rendered in HTML contexts. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth against XSS attacks by restricting script execution. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar input validation gaps, and developers should follow secure coding practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and the CWE guidelines to prevent future occurrences of this type of vulnerability.