CVE-2013-3572 in UniFi
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the administer interface in the UniFi Controller in Ubiquiti Networks UniFi 2.3.5 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted client hostname.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The CVE-2013-3572 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the UniFi Controller administrative interface version 2.3.5 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects Ubiquiti Networks' UniFi wireless network management platform, which is widely deployed in enterprise and small business environments for managing wireless access points and network infrastructure. The flaw exists within the controller's handling of client hostname data, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of authenticated administrator sessions. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it targets the administrative interface, which typically possesses elevated privileges and access to sensitive network configuration data.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the UniFi Controller's web interface. When administrators view client information, the system fails to properly escape or filter the hostname parameter before rendering it in the HTML output. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content through a specially crafted client hostname that is submitted to the system. The vulnerability is classified as a reflected XSS issue since the malicious payload is executed when the administrator views the affected page containing the unescaped hostname data. This flaw aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses in web applications that fail to properly validate or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamic web content.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-3572 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the potential to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to the entire UniFi network management system. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could execute arbitrary commands with administrator privileges, potentially leading to complete network compromise, data exfiltration, or the installation of persistent backdoors. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the network or local system access, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with remote management capabilities. This weakness creates a significant risk for businesses relying on UniFi controllers for their wireless infrastructure, as the administrative interface is often accessible from external networks for remote monitoring and management purposes.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including updating to UniFi Controller versions 2.3.6 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the XSS flaw. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as restricting administrative access to trusted networks only, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conducting regular security assessments of the UniFi environment. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1211 for exploitation of web application vulnerabilities and emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure readiness for potential exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in their network infrastructure components.