CVE-2004-1747 in NR041
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in NetworkEverywhere NR041 running firmware 1.2 Release 03 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the DHCP HOSTNAME option.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1747 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the NetworkEverywhere NR041 network device running firmware version 1.2 Release 03. This security weakness resides in the device's handling of DHCP HOSTNAME option data, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected systems. The vulnerability specifically exploits the device's insufficient input validation mechanisms when processing DHCP client hostnames, allowing malicious actors to inject crafted payloads that can be executed by other users interacting with the device's web interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the device's failure to properly sanitize and validate input received through the DHCP HOSTNAME option. When a client device connects to the network and sends its hostname information via DHCP, the NetworkEverywhere NR041 firmware does not adequately filter or escape special characters that could enable script execution. This lack of input sanitization creates a classic XSS attack vector where an attacker can craft a malicious hostname containing HTML or JavaScript code that gets stored and subsequently executed when other users view the device's administrative interface. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the web-based management interface of the device, making it particularly dangerous for network administrators who regularly access these interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform various malicious activities within the network environment. An attacker could potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface the device's web interface, or even execute more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft or privilege escalation. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not need physical access to the device or network access to exploit the vulnerability, significantly expanding the attack surface. This weakness particularly affects network administrators who may unknowingly click on malicious links or view compromised interface elements, making it a persistent threat that can compromise network security posture and potentially provide attackers with unauthorized access to network configuration settings.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate firmware updates from NetworkEverywhere to address the XSS implementation flaws in the affected device. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the vulnerable device to untrusted networks or users. Network administrators should also consider disabling unnecessary web management interfaces or implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious XSS payloads. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and follows patterns consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566 for social engineering tactics that could be employed to exploit this weakness. Organizations should also implement regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify similar issues in other network devices and ensure proper input validation mechanisms are in place across all network infrastructure components.