CVE-2012-4955 in OpenManage Server Administrator
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Dell OpenManage Server Administrator (OMSA) before 6.5.0.1, 7.0 before 7.0.0.1, and 7.1 before 7.1.0.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2024
The CVE-2012-4955 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Dell OpenManage Server Administrator (OMSA) software across multiple version ranges. This vulnerability exists in the web-based management interface of OMSA, which is commonly used by system administrators to monitor and manage Dell servers in data center environments. The affected versions include OMSA 6.5.0.0 and earlier, 7.0.0.0 and earlier, and 7.1.0.0 and earlier, making it a widespread issue affecting enterprise server management infrastructure. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated user sessions, potentially compromising the integrity of the management interface and the systems it controls.
The technical flaw manifests through unspecified vectors within the web application layer of OMSA, where input validation mechanisms fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. This weakness enables attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the browser context of legitimate users who interact with the OMSA web interface. The vulnerability is classified as a classic XSS attack pattern that falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious payloads that are processed by the OMSA web server and subsequently delivered to authenticated users, creating a persistent threat vector within the enterprise network management infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can lead to complete compromise of the management interface and potentially allow attackers to escalate privileges or access sensitive system information. Since OMSA is typically used by system administrators with elevated privileges, successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to server configurations, monitoring data, and management functions. The vulnerability affects enterprise environments where OMSA is deployed for server monitoring and management, potentially exposing critical infrastructure to unauthorized access and manipulation. This threat is particularly concerning in large data center environments where multiple administrators interact with the OMSA interface, as the attack surface expands with the number of authenticated users.
Organizations should implement immediate remediation measures including updating to patched versions of OMSA 6.5.0.1, 7.0.0.1, or 7.1.0.1, respectively. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth layers to monitor and block malicious traffic targeting the OMSA interface. Security configurations should include disabling unnecessary web services and implementing strict input validation policies. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage the XSS flaw to execute malicious scripts within the browser context of authenticated users. Regular security assessments and penetration testing of management interfaces should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other enterprise management tools, particularly those with web-based interfaces that handle privileged user sessions.