CVE-2009-3029 in SecurityExpressions Audit
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the console in Symantec SecurityExpressions Audit and Compliance Server 4.1.1, 4.1, and earlier allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via "external client input" that triggers crafted error messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2021
The CVE-2009-3029 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Symantec SecurityExpressions Audit and Compliance Server console components. This vulnerability specifically affects versions 4.1.1, 4.1, and earlier releases of the security appliance, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors who can leverage authenticated access to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code. The flaw manifests through external client input processing that ultimately triggers crafted error messages within the console interface, demonstrating a classic XSS vulnerability pattern where user-supplied data is improperly sanitized before being rendered in web responses.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when authenticated users interact with the SecurityExpressions console and provide malicious input that gets processed through error handling mechanisms. This input flows through the system's external client interface and triggers error messages that contain the injected malicious code, allowing attackers to execute scripts in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the console's error message generation system, which fails to properly sanitize user-provided data before displaying it in web contexts. This represents a Type 1 XSS vulnerability as defined by CWE-79, where the application includes untrusted data in a new web page without proper validation or encoding, allowing attackers to inject client-side scripts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, and potentially escalate privileges within the security appliance environment. Attackers can craft malicious inputs that, when processed through the console's error handling, can redirect users to phishing sites, steal authentication tokens, or manipulate the console's functionality to gain unauthorized access to security configurations. The authenticated nature of the vulnerability means that attackers must first obtain valid credentials, but once achieved, they can leverage this flaw to compromise the security appliance's integrity and confidentiality. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for credential access, as it enables both code execution and potential credential theft through browser-based attacks.
Organizations utilizing affected Symantec SecurityExpressions versions face significant risks including potential data breaches, unauthorized access to compliance audit data, and compromise of the security infrastructure. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning given that the console serves as the primary management interface for security policies and compliance monitoring, making it a prime target for attackers seeking persistent access to security controls. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected systems to the latest available versions, implementation of proper input validation and output encoding controls, and deployment of web application firewalls to detect and prevent XSS attacks. Additionally, organizations should enforce least privilege access controls for console users and implement regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their security infrastructure. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper security coding practices and input sanitization, as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, emphasizing that even authenticated access points require robust protection against injection attacks.