CVE-2011-2694 in Samba
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the chg_passwd function in web/swat.c in the Samba Web Administration Tool (SWAT) in Samba 3.x before 3.5.10 allows remote authenticated administrators to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the username parameter to the passwd program (aka the user field to the Change Password page).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2021
The CVE-2011-2694 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Samba Web Administration Tool that affects versions prior to 3.5.10. This vulnerability specifically targets the chg_passwd function in the web/swat.c component, creating a dangerous attack vector for authenticated administrators who can leverage this weakness to execute malicious scripts. The vulnerability manifests when the username parameter is processed through the passwd program, which corresponds to the user field on the Change Password page within the SWAT interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper input validation and output encoding within the web administration tool's password change functionality. When an authenticated administrator accesses the password change page and submits a malicious username value containing script code, the system fails to properly sanitize the input before rendering it in the web interface. This allows attackers who have already gained administrative credentials to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers who visit the affected pages. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-2694 extends beyond simple script injection as it can enable sophisticated attack chains that compromise the entire Samba administration environment. An attacker with administrative privileges can craft malicious username entries that persist in the system and execute when other administrators view the affected pages, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where Samba SWAT is exposed to untrusted users or where multiple administrators access the same administrative interface. This weakness creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by attackers who have already established administrative access to the Samba server.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Samba versions 3.5.10 or later where this vulnerability has been patched. The fix typically involves proper input sanitization and output encoding of user-supplied data within the chg_passwd function. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as restricting access to the SWAT interface to trusted networks only, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments of web-based administration tools. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which covers credential harvesting through social engineering or compromised accounts, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative access is compromised. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and highlights how even authenticated administrative interfaces can contain dangerous XSS flaws that can be exploited to compromise entire systems.