CVE-2011-5249 in System iNtrusion Analysis
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the events page in the System iNtrusion Analysis and Reporting Environment (SNARE) for Linux agent before 1.7.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a logged shell command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2022
The CVE-2011-5249 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the System iNtrusion Analysis and Reporting Environment (SNARE) for Linux agent version 1.6.0 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the events page functionality within the SNARE system, which is designed to monitor and report on security incidents and intrusion attempts. The SNARE agent serves as a crucial component in enterprise security infrastructure, collecting and logging system events and potential security breaches. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the events page implementation, creating an exploitable condition where malicious actors can inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of logged shell commands within the SNARE system. When the Linux agent processes and displays shell commands that have been executed on the system, it fails to properly sanitize or escape the output before rendering it in the web interface. This allows remote attackers to craft malicious shell commands that contain embedded script code, which then gets executed when other users view the events page. The vulnerability specifically targets the web-based interface of the SNARE agent, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect any user who accesses the events page, regardless of their privilege level. The flaw operates under CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as a result of insufficient input validation and output encoding, making this a classic example of how improper data handling can lead to severe security consequences.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-5249 extends far beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a persistent vector for executing malicious code within the context of the affected web application. Once an attacker successfully injects malicious scripts, they can potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, deface the web interface, or even execute more sophisticated attacks such as privilege escalation within the SNARE environment. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require local system access to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where the SNARE agent might be accessible from external networks. This weakness could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to security event data, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire intrusion detection and reporting system. The impact is further amplified by the fact that SNARE systems are typically deployed in security-critical environments where the integrity and confidentiality of logged events are paramount.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to SNARE agent version 1.7.0 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms to prevent the injection of malicious scripts. The mitigation strategy should also include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block XSS attempts, conducting regular security assessments of web interfaces, and ensuring that all user inputs are properly validated and escaped before being rendered in web pages. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the SNARE web interface to only authorized personnel, reducing the attack surface and potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script injection, and highlights the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security software in enterprise environments.