CVE-2010-2288 in Secure Access
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in dana/nc/ncrun.cgi in Juniper Networks IVE 6.5R1 (Build 14599) and 6.5R2 (Build 14951) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the DSSignInURL cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2288 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Juniper Networks Identity Vault Edition (IVE) appliances running specific software versions. This security weakness exists in the dana/nc/ncrun.cgi component of the web interface, specifically affecting versions 6.5R1 and 6.5R2 with designated build numbers. The vulnerability manifests through improper input validation mechanisms that fail to adequately sanitize user-supplied data within the DSSignInURL cookie parameter, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content into the application's response.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly encode or escape special characters within the DSSignInURL cookie value before incorporating it into the web page response. When the vulnerable IVE appliance processes requests containing malicious payloads within this specific cookie parameter, the system does not perform adequate sanitization or output encoding, allowing attackers to inject script code that executes within the context of other users' browsers. This behavior directly 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 encoding, enabling malicious scripts to be executed in the victim's browser context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive authentication tokens, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute arbitrary commands within the victim's browser environment. Attackers can leverage this weakness to impersonate legitimate users, access restricted administrative functions, or compromise the entire authentication infrastructure of the IVE appliance. The remote nature of this vulnerability means that attackers do not require physical access to the network or direct system interaction, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the IVE appliance serves as a critical authentication gateway for enterprise networks. This vulnerability directly maps to several tactics within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, including credential access through web application attacks and privilege escalation via session manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-2288 should prioritize immediate implementation of the vendor-provided security patches and updates released for affected IVE versions. Organizations must ensure that all instances of the vulnerable software are updated to patched versions that include proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms for cookie parameters. Network administrators should implement additional protective measures such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious cookie values, implement strict cookie security attributes including HttpOnly and Secure flags, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining current security patches and following security best practices such as input validation, output encoding, and regular security audits to prevent similar weaknesses from being exploited in the future.