CVE-2012-4889 in Firewall Analyzer
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer 7.2 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) subTab or (2) tab parameter to createAnomaly.do; (3) url, (4) subTab, or (5) tab parameter to mindex.do; (6) tab parameter to index2.do; or (7) port parameter to syslogViewer.do.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4889 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer version 7.2. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within multiple web application endpoints, creating multiple attack vectors that enable remote adversaries to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users. The vulnerability specifically targets four distinct servlets including createAnomaly.do, mindex.do, index2.do, and syslogViewer.do, each susceptible to different parameter injection attacks. The flaw resides in the application's failure to properly encode or validate user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content, thereby creating persistent XSS attack surfaces.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through improper handling of HTTP parameters across various application modules. Attackers can exploit the subTab and tab parameters in createAnomaly.do to inject malicious scripts, while mindex.do accepts url, subTab, and tab parameters as additional attack vectors. The index2.do servlet specifically targets the tab parameter, and syslogViewer.do exploits the port parameter to deliver malicious payloads. These injection points occur because the application does not implement proper output encoding or input validation mechanisms before rendering user-controllable data within HTML contexts. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding, allowing attackers to execute scripts in the victim's browser context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user credentials, access restricted administrative functions, or redirect users to malicious domains. Since Firewall Analyzer is designed for network security monitoring and management, successful exploitation could provide attackers with unauthorized access to critical network infrastructure monitoring data and potentially compromise the entire security monitoring ecosystem. The vulnerability affects authenticated users who interact with the web interface, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple administrators access the system. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) and T1566.001 (Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment) as attackers could leverage these XSS flaws to establish persistent access or deliver additional malicious payloads through compromised user sessions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4889 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all web application endpoints. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided security patches or upgrade to versions that address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper parameter sanitization, using context-aware output encoding, and deploying web application firewalls can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. The application should enforce strict input validation for all parameters received through HTTP requests, particularly those used in dynamic content generation. Security teams should also implement regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications within the network infrastructure. The remediation process must include thorough code review of all input handling mechanisms and implementation of secure coding practices that align with OWASP Top Ten security requirements for preventing XSS vulnerabilities.