CVE-2011-4263 in PowerChute
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Schneider Electric PowerChute Business Edition before 8.5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/13/2019
The CVE-2011-4263 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Schneider Electric PowerChute Business Edition software prior to version 8.5. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML code into the affected system, potentially compromising the security of users who interact with the vulnerable application. The unspecified vectors indicate that the attack could occur through multiple entry points within the web interface, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for comprehensive exploitation.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability in PowerChute Business Edition stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application components. When users interact with the system through web browsers, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that execute within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized administrative actions. The vulnerability's presence in the business edition suggests it affects enterprise-level power management systems that organizations rely upon for critical infrastructure monitoring and control.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, creating significant risks for organizations managing critical power infrastructure. Attackers could exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to power management systems, potentially disrupting operations or gaining insights into an organization's electrical infrastructure. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the system, making the vulnerability particularly attractive for cybercriminals targeting industrial control systems. Organizations using PowerChute Business Edition could face serious consequences including operational disruptions, data breaches, or potential safety hazards if attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability to manipulate power management configurations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Schneider Electric PowerChute Business Edition version 8.5 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring and filtering malicious traffic before it reaches the vulnerable application. Input validation should be strengthened at all user-facing interfaces, ensuring that all data entering the system undergoes proper sanitization. Security awareness training for administrators can help identify potential exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should be conducted to ensure the integrity of the power management infrastructure. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to initial access and execution, particularly targeting web application attack surfaces that organizations may not adequately secure.