CVE-2012-4939 in Orion Network Performance Monitor
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in IPAMSummaryView.aspx in the IPAM web interface before 3.0-HotFix1 in SolarWinds Orion Network Performance Monitor might allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the "Search for an IP address" field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2024
The CVE-2012-4939 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the SolarWinds Orion Network Performance Monitor IPAM web interface. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 3.0-HotFix1 and resides in the IPAMSummaryView.aspx page, which serves as the primary interface for managing and viewing IP address information within the network monitoring system. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input in the "Search for an IP address" field, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the web application's user interface. When users enter data into the search field, the application processes this input without adequate sanitization measures, allowing malicious payloads to be stored and subsequently executed when the page renders. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly handled in web applications. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within a network monitoring tool that typically requires elevated privileges and provides access to sensitive network information, making successful exploitation potentially devastating for network security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized access to network monitoring data. An attacker could craft malicious search queries that, when executed by an authenticated user, would redirect them to malicious sites, steal session cookies, or even inject backdoors into the network monitoring environment. This creates a significant risk for organizations using SolarWinds Orion, as the vulnerability could be exploited by remote attackers without requiring direct network access to the monitoring system itself. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust relationship between users and the monitoring application, making detection more difficult.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4939 should focus on immediate patch deployment to version 3.0-HotFix1 or later, which addresses the input validation deficiencies in the IPAM web interface. Organizations should also implement additional security controls including web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious payloads targeting XSS vulnerabilities, enhanced input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture, and regular security assessments of web interfaces. Network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential damage from successful exploitation, while security awareness training for administrators can help prevent social engineering attacks that might leverage this vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for credential access, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the threat. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can identify similar input validation issues in other web applications within their network infrastructure to prevent similar vulnerabilities from going undetected.