CVE-2008-2797 in OpUtils
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in MainLayout.do in ManageEngine OpUtils 5.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the hostName parameter, when viewing an SNMP graph. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-2797 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within ManageEngine OpUtils 5.0's MainLayout.do component. This issue specifically affects the SNMP graph viewing functionality where the hostName parameter is processed without adequate input validation or output encoding. The vulnerability exists in the web application's handling of user-supplied data, creating an opportunity for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of authenticated users' browsers. The affected parameter hostName is directly incorporated into the web page output without proper sanitization, making it susceptible to injection attacks that can compromise user sessions and potentially lead to further exploitation.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical security weakness in web applications. The specific variant represents a stored or reflected XSS attack vector where malicious input is processed and rendered back to users without proper context-dependent encoding. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through crafted host names that would execute in victims' browsers. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges since it operates at the application layer without requiring authentication to the underlying system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable session hijacking, data theft, and privilege escalation within the application's security boundaries. When users view SNMP graphs, the malicious JavaScript code injected through the hostName parameter would execute in their browser context, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability affects the application's integrity and confidentiality, as it allows unauthorized code execution within the application's trusted environment. Attackers could leverage this to establish persistent access or to gather sensitive operational data from the network monitoring system.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data flow. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user-supplied input including the hostName parameter before incorporating it into web page content. Implementing Content Security Policy headers and using context-appropriate encoding functions such as HTML entity encoding for web output can effectively neutralize XSS threats. Additionally, the application should employ parameterized queries and input validation routines that reject or escape potentially dangerous characters. Regular security code reviews and automated vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar weaknesses in other application components. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for unusual patterns in SNMP graph requests that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper input/output handling in network management applications that process user data.