CVE-2008-1463 in SecureSphere MX Management Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the management GUI in Imperva SecureSphere MX Management Server 5.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via an invalid or prohibited request to a web server protected by SecureSphere, which triggers injection into the "corrective action" section of an alert page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2024
The CVE-2008-1463 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Imperva SecureSphere MX Management Server version 5.0, specifically affecting the management graphical user interface. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the security appliance's alert handling system. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code through crafted requests that are processed by the SecureSphere server, ultimately leading to unauthorized code execution within the context of authenticated user sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits an invalid or prohibited request to a web server that is protected by the SecureSphere MX Management Server. The system fails to properly sanitize or encode the malicious input before displaying it in the "corrective action" section of the alert page, creating a persistent XSS vector. This particular weakness resides in the server-side processing logic where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into dynamically generated web content without adequate security controls. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, specifically manifesting as a cross-site scripting flaw in the management interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows attackers to potentially hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, or perform unauthorized actions within the SecureSphere management environment. An attacker could craft malicious requests that would appear legitimate within the alert interface, making it difficult for administrators to distinguish between genuine system alerts and malicious payloads. This vulnerability undermines the integrity of the management console and could lead to complete compromise of the security appliance, potentially allowing attackers to modify security policies, access sensitive configuration data, or disable protective measures. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it affects the management interface that administrators rely on for critical security operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of available vendor patches and updates from Imperva, as well as implementing additional defensive measures such as web application firewalls, input validation controls, and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit access to the management interface, enforcing strict access controls, and conducting regular security assessments of the SecureSphere deployment. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding in web applications, particularly in security management interfaces where the integrity of displayed information is paramount. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection and T1566 for social engineering attacks that leverage compromised management interfaces.