CVE-2010-1143 in View Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in VMware View (formerly Virtual Desktop Manager or VDM) 3.1.x before 3.1.3 build 252693 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-1143 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within VMware View 3.1.x versions prior to 3.1.3 build 252693. This security weakness specifically affects the Virtual Desktop Manager platform, which was later rebranded as VMware View, and operates within the broader context of virtual desktop infrastructure solutions that manage remote desktop environments for enterprise users. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing or rendering within web interfaces, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors within the web application layer of VMware View, suggesting that the flaw exists in how the application handles user input across multiple interface components. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications. The vulnerability allows attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML code that can be executed by other users who access the affected system, potentially enabling session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized access to sensitive information. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors indicates that the vulnerability may be present in multiple input handling mechanisms throughout the application's web interface, making it particularly challenging to fully assess the attack surface.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing VMware View for virtual desktop management, as it could enable attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the virtual desktop environment. The impact extends beyond simple script injection, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject malware into the victim's browsing context. The attack requires no special privileges to exploit, as it operates entirely within the web application layer, making it accessible to anyone capable of interacting with the VMware View interface. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which encompasses social engineering attacks through malicious web content, and T1071, which covers application layer protocol usage for command and control communications.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patch to VMware View 3.1.3 build 252693 or later versions that address this vulnerability. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, though they should not be considered complete solutions given the nature of XSS vulnerabilities. Input validation and output encoding mechanisms should be strengthened throughout the application, with particular attention to user-supplied data handling in all web interface components. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of web traffic that might indicate exploitation attempts, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in related systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches in virtualization platforms, as these systems often serve as central points of access for enterprise computing environments and require robust security controls to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches.