CVE-2012-1062 in Applications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in ManageEngine Applications Manager 9.x and 10.x allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) period parameter to showHistoryData.do; (2) selectedNetwork, (3) network, or (4) group parameters to showresource.do; (5) header parameter to AlarmView.do; or (6) attName parameter to jsp/PopUp_Graph.jsp. NOTE: the Search.do/query vector is already covered by CVE-2008-1566, and the jsp/ThresholdActionConfiguration.jsp redirectto vector is already covered by CVE-2008-0474.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-1062 represents a significant cross-site scripting weakness affecting ManageEngine Applications Manager versions 9.x and 10.x. This flaw manifests across multiple endpoints within the application's web interface, creating multiple attack vectors that could potentially allow remote adversaries to execute malicious scripts in the context of victim browsers. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical security weakness in web applications. The specific parameters affected include period in showHistoryData.do, selectedNetwork, network, and group in showresource.do, header in AlarmView.do, and attName in jsp/PopUp_Graph.jsp, all of which process user input without proper sanitization or validation. These attack vectors align with the ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Initial Access through Spearphishing Attachment, where attackers could leverage these vulnerabilities to deliver malicious payloads to unsuspecting users. The impact of these vulnerabilities extends beyond simple script execution, as they could enable attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious sites. The affected parameters typically represent user-controllable input fields that should be properly validated and sanitized before being rendered in web responses. The vulnerability affects the application's authentication and authorization mechanisms by allowing attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted input, potentially leading to privilege escalation or data theft. These XSS flaws represent a fundamental breakdown in input validation and output encoding practices within the ManageEngine platform, creating persistent security risks for organizations relying on these applications for network monitoring and management. The exploitation of these vulnerabilities could enable attackers to establish persistent access to monitored network environments, making them particularly dangerous in enterprise settings where network monitoring tools are critical infrastructure components.
The technical implementation of these XSS vulnerabilities stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the ManageEngine Applications Manager web interface. When user-supplied parameters such as period, selectedNetwork, network, group, header, or attName are processed without proper encoding or validation, they create opportunities for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability is particularly insidious because it can be exploited through various application endpoints, each representing a different pathway for attack delivery. The vulnerability affects the application's security posture by creating multiple potential entry points for malicious code injection, each with the potential to compromise user sessions or execute unauthorized commands. The affected parameters typically represent fields that should contain legitimate application data but are not properly sanitized before being rendered in HTML responses. This failure in input validation follows the ATT&CK pattern of T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter through JavaScript, where attackers can leverage the application's own processing capabilities to execute malicious code. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple endpoints suggests a systemic issue in the application's security architecture, indicating that the developers may not have implemented consistent input validation and output encoding practices throughout the codebase. These XSS vulnerabilities can be categorized under the broader ATT&CK technique T1584.002 for Establish and Maintain Infrastructure through Web Shells, as they provide attackers with persistent access mechanisms within the application environment.
Organizational impact of CVE-2012-1062 extends far beyond simple script injection capabilities, as these vulnerabilities create substantial risks for enterprise network monitoring environments. Attackers exploiting these flaws could potentially steal session tokens, access sensitive network monitoring data, or redirect users to phishing sites that appear legitimate within the application context. The affected parameters represent critical data flow points within the monitoring application, where malicious input could compromise the integrity of network monitoring information and potentially lead to unauthorized access to network resources. The vulnerability's presence in ManageEngine Applications Manager creates opportunities for attackers to escalate privileges and gain deeper access to network infrastructure, particularly since these applications often serve as critical monitoring and management tools within enterprise environments. Organizations using these versions of ManageEngine Applications Manager face the risk of data exfiltration, session hijacking, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The impact on business operations could be significant, as compromised monitoring applications could lead to undetected security breaches or false alarms that disrupt normal operations. The vulnerability's exploitation could also result in compliance violations, particularly in regulated industries where network monitoring data integrity is critical. The affected application endpoints represent potential attack vectors that could be used to establish persistent access to network monitoring environments, making these vulnerabilities particularly dangerous for organizations that rely heavily on continuous network visibility and monitoring capabilities. Security teams would need to implement immediate mitigations to prevent exploitation while planning for proper patching or application upgrades to address the root cause of these input validation failures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1062 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding practices throughout the ManageEngine Applications Manager installation. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided security patches or upgrade to versions that address these vulnerabilities, as the affected versions 9.x and 10.x are no longer supported and lack security updates. The implementation of proper input sanitization should be enforced at all application endpoints, particularly for the parameters identified in the vulnerability description including period, selectedNetwork, network, group, header, and attName. Security measures should include implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution, and configuring proper output encoding for all dynamic content generated by the application. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts through these vulnerabilities, with security teams implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious parameter patterns. The implementation of web application firewalls could provide additional protection layers, though these should not be considered a complete solution but rather a supplementary security measure. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their network monitoring environments to identify other potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited in conjunction with these XSS flaws. Regular security training for administrators and users should emphasize the importance of keeping applications updated and recognizing potential signs of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as CWE-79 necessitates a fundamental review of the application's security architecture, ensuring that all user-controllable inputs are properly validated and that output encoding is consistently applied throughout the application's web interface. These mitigations align with the ATT&CK technique T1562.001 for Impair Defenses through the implementation of proper input validation and output encoding practices that prevent the execution of malicious code. The security measures should also include regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing to identify any additional weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers seeking to leverage these vulnerabilities for more extensive attacks.