CVE-2009-2897 in Hyperic HQ
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in hq/web/common/GenericError.jsp in the generic exception handler in the web interface in SpringSource Hyperic HQ 3.2.x before 3.2.6.1, 4.0.x before 4.0.3.1, 4.1.x before 4.1.2.1, and 4.2-beta1; Application Management Suite (AMS) 2.0.0.SR3; and tc Server 6.0.20.B allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via invalid values for numerical parameters, as demonstrated by an uncaught java.lang.NumberFormatException exception resulting from (1) the typeId parameter to mastheadAttach.do, (2) the eid parameter to Resource.do, and (3) the u parameter in a view action to admin/user/UserAdmin.do. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-2897 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting multiple versions of SpringSource Hyperic HQ and related products. This vulnerability resides within the generic exception handler component of the web interface, specifically in the hq/web/common/GenericError.jsp file, which serves as the centralized error handling mechanism for the application. The flaw manifests when the system encounters invalid numerical parameters that trigger uncaught NumberFormatException exceptions, creating an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious scripts into the application's error responses. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the exception handling level, meaning that any numerical parameter that fails type validation can potentially be exploited without requiring specific authentication or privileged access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the fact that when numerical parameters fail to parse correctly, the system generates an error page that displays the raw parameter values without proper sanitization or encoding. Attackers can craft malicious inputs that cause NumberFormatException exceptions to be thrown, specifically targeting parameters such as typeId in mastheadAttach.do, eid in Resource.do, and u in admin/user/UserAdmin.do. These parameters are commonly used in the application's navigation and resource management functions, making them prime targets for exploitation. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the generic error handling mechanism, where user-supplied data flows directly into the error response without proper sanitization. This represents a classic case of improper input validation and output encoding, which aligns with CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, and CWE-80 - Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial, as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated users' browsers. This creates a potential attack vector for session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. An attacker could craft malicious URLs that, when visited by a user with valid session credentials, would execute malicious JavaScript code that could steal cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of the authenticated user. The vulnerability affects multiple product lines including Hyperic HQ versions 3.2.x through 4.2-beta1, Application Management Suite 2.0.0.SR3, and tc Server 6.0.20.B, indicating a widespread issue that could compromise numerous enterprise monitoring and management systems. Given that these applications are typically deployed in enterprise environments with privileged access, the potential for lateral movement and privilege escalation through this vulnerability is significant. The attack surface is broad because many parameters in web applications are susceptible to numerical input, and the generic error handler processes all uncaught exceptions, making this vulnerability particularly pernicious.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding practices throughout the application. The most effective immediate fix involves sanitizing all user-supplied parameters before they are processed by the generic error handler, ensuring that any potentially malicious content is properly escaped or removed. Organizations should implement proper parameter validation at the point of entry, rejecting or sanitizing inputs that cannot be properly parsed as expected data types. The implementation should follow secure coding practices aligned with OWASP Top Ten recommendations and NIST guidelines for web application security. Additionally, the application should be updated to versions that contain the vendor-provided patches, as these releases would include proper input sanitization and output encoding in the error handling components. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth, though they should not be relied upon as the sole mitigation. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar patterns in other parts of the application that might be susceptible to the same class of vulnerabilities, particularly focusing on error handling and input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper exception handling design, where developers should ensure that error messages do not expose raw user input data, and that all external data flows through proper sanitization layers before being rendered in web responses. This issue demonstrates how seemingly innocuous error handling components can become critical attack vectors when not properly secured, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing of all application components including those that are typically considered "non-functional" such as error pages and logging mechanisms.