CVE-2007-5803 in Nagios
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in CGI programs in Nagios before 2.12 might allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, a different issue than CVE-2007-5624 and CVE-2008-1360.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5803 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting Nagios monitoring software versions prior to 2.12. This flaw resides within the CGI programs that form a core component of the Nagios web interface, making it particularly dangerous as it directly impacts the web-based management capabilities that administrators rely upon for system monitoring. The vulnerability's classification as a persistent XSS issue means that malicious scripts can be executed in the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially leading to complete compromise of the monitoring environment and unauthorized access to sensitive system information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the CGI scripts that process user-supplied data. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that get executed when other users view affected web pages, leveraging the trust relationship between the web interface and its users. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the vulnerability manifests across multiple entry points within the CGI framework, making it particularly challenging to secure through targeted patching approaches. This characteristic aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is improperly handled in web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-5803 extends far beyond simple data theft or defacement. Given that Nagios is widely deployed in enterprise environments for critical system monitoring, successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to monitoring data, potentially leading to information disclosure of system configurations, network topology details, and operational statuses. The vulnerability's presence in the web interface means that authenticated users could be tricked into executing malicious scripts that could redirect them to phishing sites, steal session cookies, or even modify monitoring configurations to hide malicious activities. This risk is particularly severe in environments where Nagios serves as a central monitoring point for critical infrastructure, as it could provide attackers with a persistent foothold for further attacks.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through upgrading to Nagios version 2.12 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the XSS weaknesses. The mitigation strategy should also include implementing proper input validation at multiple layers, including web application firewalls and security headers to reduce the impact of potential exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit exposure of the Nagios web interface to only authorized personnel. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other monitoring tools and web applications within the infrastructure. The ATT&CK framework categorizes such vulnerabilities under TA0001 (Initial Access) and TA0002 (Execution) techniques, emphasizing the importance of addressing these weaknesses through both preventive measures and ongoing monitoring of web application security.