CVE-2018-15538 in Cockpit
Summary
by MITRE
Agentejo Cockpit has multiple Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-15538 affects Agentejo Cockpit, a content management system and web application framework that provides administrative interfaces for managing digital content. This particular vulnerability manifests as multiple cross-site scripting flaws that could potentially allow attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a victim's browser session. The affected system typically serves as a backend management interface for websites and web applications, making it a critical component in the overall security posture of organizations relying on it for content management operations.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Cockpit application's user interface components. Attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities by injecting malicious script code through various input fields, parameters, or API endpoints that are not properly sanitized before being rendered back to users. The XSS vulnerabilities occur when the application fails to adequately escape or filter user-supplied data before displaying it in web pages, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers. This weakness can be categorized under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in software applications.
The operational impact of these vulnerabilities is significant as they can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, unauthorized access to administrative functions, and potential data breaches. An attacker who successfully exploits these XSS flaws could gain access to sensitive administrative interfaces, modify content, steal user sessions, or redirect victims to malicious websites. The attack surface is particularly concerning because Cockpit serves as a management interface for web applications, meaning that successful exploitation could provide attackers with elevated privileges and access to critical system functions. These vulnerabilities align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers scripting through web shell execution, and T1531 which addresses credential access through session hijacking.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-15538 should include immediate patching of the affected Cockpit versions to address the input validation and output encoding deficiencies. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures, including proper HTML escaping, content security policies, and secure coding practices that prevent malicious code injection. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application stack. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious script injection patterns can provide additional layers of protection. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and the need for regular security updates to address known vulnerabilities in content management systems.