CVE-2008-6095 in OpenNMS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in surveillanceView.htm in OpenNMS 1.5.94 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the viewName parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6095 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the OpenNMS surveillance monitoring platform version 1.5.94. This vulnerability exists in the surveillanceView.htm component which serves as a web interface for viewing surveillance data and system monitoring information. The flaw specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input passed through the viewName parameter, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts within the context of authenticated users' browsers. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers manipulate the viewName parameter in the surveillanceView.htm URL to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content. When the vulnerable application processes this unsanitized input and renders it within the web page without proper output encoding or validation, the injected scripts execute in the victim's browser context. This creates a persistent threat vector where attackers can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, deface web interfaces, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in surveillance environments where OpenNMS typically operates with administrative privileges and sensitive monitoring data, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise network monitoring infrastructure.
From an operational impact perspective, this XSS vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on OpenNMS for network monitoring and surveillance. Attackers could exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to surveillance data, potentially compromising security monitoring capabilities and exposing sensitive network information. The attack surface extends beyond simple script injection to include session hijacking, where malicious actors could steal authentication tokens to maintain persistent access to the surveillance system. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of monitoring data, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate or conceal security events within the surveillance system. The impact is further amplified in enterprise environments where OpenNMS may be integrated with other security tools and monitoring systems, creating cascading effects throughout the security infrastructure.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability effectively. The primary remediation involves upgrading to a patched version of OpenNMS where proper input validation and output encoding have been implemented for the viewName parameter. Input sanitization techniques should include proper HTML escaping and validation of all user-supplied parameters before processing. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional defense layer against script execution even if the primary vulnerability is not fully patched. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious parameter values in web application logs, particularly those containing common XSS attack patterns. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of the surveillance interface to authorized personnel only. Regular security assessments and web application firewalls should be deployed to detect and block malicious input attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security standards, specifically addressing the need for proper output encoding and input sanitization to prevent XSS attacks. This case highlights the necessity of maintaining current security patches and implementing comprehensive security monitoring strategies to protect critical infrastructure components.