CVE-2007-3546 in Nessus
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Windows GUI in Nessus Vulnerability Scanner before 3.0.6 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2025
The CVE-2007-3546 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the graphical user interface component of Nessus Vulnerability Scanner version 3.0.5 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the Windows GUI interface of the popular network security assessment tool, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by remote threat actors. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the web-based interface components that handle user interactions and data display. Security researchers identified this weakness as part of the broader category of web application vulnerabilities that compromise user session integrity and can lead to unauthorized access or data manipulation.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when the Nessus GUI fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it within web pages displayed to users. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that exploit the lack of proper input filtering mechanisms in the Windows GUI interface. These payloads typically consist of malicious javascript code or html tags that get executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view affected pages or interact with the vulnerable application interface. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that multiple input points within the GUI could potentially be exploited, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as attackers can identify various entry points for injection attacks. This weakness aligns with CWE-79 which defines Cross-site Scripting as a common web application vulnerability where untrusted data is embedded into web pages viewed by other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking. Remote attackers who successfully exploit this XSS vulnerability can potentially gain access to sensitive information, manipulate user sessions, or even escalate privileges within the Nessus environment. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that could be exploited by attackers to establish footholds within network security monitoring infrastructure, potentially compromising the integrity of vulnerability assessments and security audits conducted using the affected Nessus version. Organizations relying on Nessus for security testing and vulnerability management face significant risk of unauthorized access to their scanning configurations and potentially sensitive network information. The Windows GUI interface serves as a critical administrative entry point for security professionals, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments where Nessus is deployed for continuous security monitoring.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-3546 primarily focus on immediate patching of Nessus installations to version 3.0.6 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes to address the XSS vulnerability. System administrators should also implement additional defensive measures including web application firewalls, input validation controls, and regular security assessments of the Nessus environment. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of the Nessus GUI interface to trusted users only. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding in web applications, principles that align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566.001 for Phishing. Organizations should also consider implementing security awareness training for administrators who interact with the Nessus GUI to prevent social engineering attacks that could exploit this vulnerability. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other network security tools and applications that may be running in the same environment.