CVE-2011-0770 in Arcsight C1300 Appliance
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Windows Event Log SmartConnector in HP ArcSight Connector Appliance before 6.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Windows XP variable in a file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0770 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Windows Event Log SmartConnector component of HP ArcSight Connector Appliance versions prior to 6.1. This security weakness resides in the appliance's handling of user-supplied input through the Windows XP variable parameter in file processing operations, creating a significant attack vector for remote threat actors seeking to compromise system integrity and user sessions.
This vulnerability operates through a classic input validation failure where the SmartConnector component fails to properly sanitize or escape user-provided data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. The flaw specifically manifests when processing Windows XP variable parameters within files, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML payloads that can execute within the context of legitimate user sessions. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or escaping mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate user interfaces, steal sensitive information, and potentially escalate privileges within the ArcSight environment. Remote attackers can craft malicious payloads that persist in the event log data, causing the injected scripts to execute whenever affected users view the compromised log entries through the web interface. This creates a persistent threat vector that can affect multiple users and sessions within the appliance's administrative interface.
Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can employ techniques aligned with ATT&CK tactics such as T1566 for initial access through malicious web content and T1059 for command execution through script injection. The threat landscape for this vulnerability includes both automated scanning tools that look for known patterns in ArcSight deployments and targeted attacks from sophisticated threat actors seeking to establish persistent access to enterprise security infrastructure. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on ArcSight for security event monitoring and log management, as the compromised appliance could provide attackers with access to critical security logs and monitoring data.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate patching of HP ArcSight Connector Appliance to version 6.1 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding for the affected Windows XP variable handling. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as network segmentation to limit access to the appliance, regular monitoring of log files for suspicious activity, and enhanced web application firewall rules that can detect and block known XSS attack patterns. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected systems within their environment and ensure proper input validation is implemented across all web-facing components of their security infrastructure.