CVE-2011-3689 in CodeMeter WebAdmin
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Licenses.html in Wibu-Systems CodeMeter WebAdmin 3.30 and 4.30 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the BoxSerial parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3689 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Wibu-Systems CodeMeter WebAdmin software version 3.30 and 4.30. This security weakness resides in the Licenses.html component and specifically affects the BoxSerial parameter handling mechanism. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information or system compromise.
This XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the web application's parameter processing logic. When the BoxSerial parameter is submitted to the Licenses.html page, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into the dynamic web page output. The flaw aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as the improper handling of input data that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications. The vulnerability exists because the application trusts user input without sufficient validation, creating an opportunity for attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted malicious payloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors including session hijacking, credential theft, and privilege escalation. An attacker could craft a malicious URL containing XSS payloads in the BoxSerial parameter, which when accessed by an authenticated user would execute the malicious code within that user's browser context. This could potentially allow attackers to steal session cookies, modify application data, or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability particularly affects administrators who use the CodeMeter WebAdmin interface, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with elevated privileges within the software environment and potentially access to protected licensing information.
Security practitioners should implement multiple layers of mitigation to address this vulnerability. The primary defense mechanism involves input validation and output encoding, where all user-supplied parameters including BoxSerial must be properly sanitized before being processed or displayed. Implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution, while proper parameter validation should be enforced at both client and server levels. Organizations should also consider applying the vendor-provided security patches or updates that address this specific vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1531 which covers "Credential Access" techniques, as the vulnerability can potentially be leveraged to obtain unauthorized access to administrative credentials and system resources through session manipulation. Regular security assessments and web application firewalls should be deployed to monitor for exploitation attempts and provide additional protection layers against similar vulnerabilities in the future.