CVE-2008-4320 in OpenNMS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in OpenNMS before 1.5.94 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the j_username parameter to j_acegi_security_check, (2) the username parameter to notification/list.jsp, and (3) the filter parameter to event/list.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/17/2024
The CVE-2008-4320 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting OpenNMS versions prior to 1.5.94, exposing the system to remote code execution through malicious web script injection. This vulnerability manifests across three distinct entry points within the application's authentication and monitoring interfaces, creating multiple attack vectors for threat actors seeking to compromise the network monitoring platform. The affected parameters include j_username in the j_acegi_security_check endpoint, username in notification/list.jsp, and filter in event/list.jsp, each representing a potential pathway for malicious input manipulation.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within OpenNMS's web interface components. When user-supplied data is directly incorporated into web responses without proper encoding or filtering, it creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. This vulnerability specifically targets the authentication flow and monitoring interfaces, where user input is processed and displayed without sufficient security controls. The flaw aligns with CWE-79, which classifies cross-site scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is processed and rendered without proper sanitization mechanisms. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by its location within core authentication and event handling components, potentially allowing attackers to hijack sessions, steal credentials, or manipulate monitoring data.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on OpenNMS for network monitoring and management. Attackers exploiting these XSS flaws could gain unauthorized access to monitoring interfaces, potentially leading to complete system compromise through session hijacking or credential theft. The attack vectors span across user authentication, notification handling, and event filtering mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous for environments where OpenNMS serves as a central monitoring platform. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access or prior authentication to exploit these weaknesses, making them particularly attractive targets for automated exploitation campaigns. Organizations using vulnerable versions face potential data breaches, unauthorized system access, and disruption of critical network monitoring functions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-4320 should prioritize immediate patching of OpenNMS installations to version 1.5.94 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms across all user-facing interfaces, ensuring that all parameters are properly sanitized before processing or display. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script injection attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of vulnerable components, while regular security audits should verify that input validation measures remain effective. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, and establish monitoring procedures to identify potential exploitation attempts. These measures align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script injection, as the vulnerability enables attackers to execute malicious code through web-based interfaces. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched systems to ensure that security fixes do not introduce regressions in functionality while maintaining the integrity of the monitoring platform's core operations.