CVE-2013-1097 in ZENworks Configuration Management
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in a ZCC page in njwc.jar in Novell ZENworks Configuration Management (ZCM) 11.2 before 11.2.3a Monthly Update 1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors involving an onload event.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1097 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Novell ZENworks Configuration Management version 11.2 before 11.2.3a Monthly Update 1. This issue specifically affects the ZCC (ZENworks Configuration Console) page component contained within the njwc.jar archive, creating a significant security risk for organizations utilizing this configuration management solution. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within web pages, thereby enabling malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated user sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted malicious input that leverages the onload event handler within HTML documents. This particular attack vector demonstrates how insufficient sanitization of user-controllable parameters can lead to code injection, where attackers can inject malicious JavaScript code that executes when the page loads. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and more precisely aligns with CWE-80 which details improper neutralization of script-related HTML tags in a web page. The attack mechanism exploits the trust relationship between the web application and the user's browser, allowing the malicious code to execute with the privileges of the authenticated user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, privilege escalation, and redirection to malicious sites. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can manipulate the ZENworks Configuration Management interface to gain unauthorized access to sensitive configuration data, potentially compromising the entire configuration management infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the web-based administrative console, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring local system access, thus expanding the attack surface significantly.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of Novell's official patch or update to ZENworks Configuration Management 11.2.3a Monthly Update 1, which specifically addresses this XSS flaw. Security measures should include implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application, particularly for any user-controllable data that may be rendered in web pages. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the configuration management infrastructure. The remediation process should also involve comprehensive security training for administrators to recognize and respond to potential exploitation attempts, as well as implementing monitoring procedures to detect anomalous user behavior that may indicate successful exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing robust input sanitization practices in enterprise management systems to prevent unauthorized access and data compromise.