CVE-2013-0933 in RSA Archer GRC
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in EMC RSA Archer 5.x before GRC 5.3SP1, and Archer Smart Suite Framework 4.x, allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2019
The CVE-2013-0933 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting EMC RSA Archer versions 5.x prior to GRC 5.3SP1 and Archer Smart Suite Framework 4.x. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability exists in the input validation mechanisms of these enterprise security applications, specifically within the web interface components that process user-supplied data without proper sanitization or encoding.
The technical flaw manifests when the application fails to properly validate and sanitize user input across multiple vectors within the Archer platform. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious JavaScript code or HTML content through unspecified input points in the web application interface. These vectors likely include form fields, URL parameters, or other user-controllable data inputs that are subsequently rendered back to users without appropriate output encoding or sanitization. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects enterprise-grade security applications used for governance, risk, and compliance management, where the injected scripts could potentially access sensitive data or compromise user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond typical web application attacks, given that RSA Archer is deployed in enterprise environments for critical security functions. Remote attackers could leverage these XSS vulnerabilities to hijack user sessions, steal authentication tokens, access sensitive business data, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The attack surface is particularly dangerous in environments where Archer is used for managing security policies, risk assessments, and compliance reporting, as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to critical security information. The vulnerability also enables attackers to perform phishing attacks against other users within the same organization, potentially leading to further compromise of the enterprise security infrastructure.
Organizations affected by CVE-2013-0933 should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patch for GRC 5.3SP1 and Archer Smart Suite Framework 4.x, which addresses the input validation issues. Additional protective measures include implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms, deploying web application firewalls, and conducting comprehensive security testing of all user-controllable inputs. Security teams should also consider implementing content security policies to limit script execution and monitor for suspicious user activity. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies, particularly for critical enterprise applications handling sensitive data. Organizations should also review their security monitoring capabilities to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure proper incident response procedures are in place for such security incidents.