CVE-2009-1785 in Open Virtual Desktop
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop 1.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the error parameter to header.php. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/14/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-1785 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop 1.0 platform, specifically manifesting in the header.php script where the error parameter is processed without adequate input validation or output sanitization. This security weakness enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of other users' browsers, exploiting the application's failure to properly handle user-supplied data. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning as it affects a core component of the virtual desktop infrastructure, potentially compromising user sessions and enabling unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses that occur when an application incorporates untrusted data into web pages without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. The vulnerability exists because the header.php script directly incorporates the error parameter from user input into the generated HTML response without implementing appropriate sanitization techniques. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that, when executed in a victim's browser, can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or defacing web pages. The attack vector is particularly dangerous as it requires no authentication or privileged access, making it a significant risk for any user interacting with the vulnerable system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or page defacement, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks within the virtual desktop environment. Attackers could leverage this XSS flaw to establish persistent access to user sessions, potentially leading to full system compromise or unauthorized access to virtual desktop resources. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire Ulteo Open Virtual Desktop platform, as any user who interacts with the affected application could become a conduit for further attacks. This weakness could be exploited in combination with other vulnerabilities to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to additional system resources, making it a critical concern for organizations relying on this virtual desktop solution.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in dynamic content generation. The recommended approach involves implementing proper parameter sanitization within the header.php script to ensure that any input from the error parameter is properly escaped before being rendered in the browser. Security measures should include the implementation of Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and prevent unauthorized code injection. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the virtual desktop infrastructure. The remediation process should follow established security frameworks such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in future deployments.