CVE-2004-0606 in DNS One
Summary
by MITRE
cross-site scripting (xss) vulnerability in infoblox dns one running firmware 2.4.0-8 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary scripts as other users via the (1) clientid or (2) hostname option of a dhcp request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-0606 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the InfoBlox DNS One appliance firmware version 2.4.0-8 and earlier releases. This security weakness resides in the device's handling of dhcp requests and specifically affects two parameters: clientid and hostname options. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to inject malicious scripts into the appliance's web interface, potentially allowing them to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of other users who interact with the compromised system.
This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The attack vector exploits the lack of proper input validation and sanitization within the dhcp request processing functionality of the InfoBlox appliance. When the system receives dhcp requests containing malicious clientid or hostname values, it fails to properly escape or filter these inputs before displaying them in web responses, creating an environment where attacker-controlled scripts can be executed in the context of other users' browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows attackers to potentially gain unauthorized access to the appliance's administrative functions and user sessions. An attacker could craft malicious dhcp requests with specially formatted clientid or hostname values that, when processed by the vulnerable firmware, would execute in the browser of any user who views the affected web interface. This could lead to session hijacking, data theft, or complete compromise of the appliance's configuration and network management capabilities. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the network infrastructure level, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate dns records and dhcp services that control network access for multiple devices.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate firmware updates to versions that address the cross-site scripting flaw, implementation of network segmentation to limit access to the appliance, and deployment of web application firewalls to detect and block malicious dhcp requests. Organizations should also consider implementing input validation mechanisms at the network level to filter out suspicious clientid and hostname values. The attack surface can be reduced by restricting direct internet access to the appliance and ensuring that only authorized network segments can communicate with the dhcp service. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network infrastructure components that may be susceptible to similar cross-site scripting attacks.