CVE-2013-4946 in Service Desk Express
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in BMC Service Desk Express (SDE) 10.2.1.95 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) SelTab parameter to QV_admin.aspx, the (2) CallBack parameter to QV_grid.aspx, or the (3) HelpPage parameter to commonhelp.aspx.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2013-4946 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting BMC Service Desk Express version 10.2.1.95, a widely deployed IT service management solution. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within three distinct web pages that handle user-supplied parameters. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of victims' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized system access. The vulnerability specifically manifests in three attack vectors: the SelTab parameter in QV_admin.aspx, the CallBack parameter in QV_grid.aspx, and the HelpPage parameter in commonhelp.aspx, each representing different entry points for malicious code injection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw where untrusted data is directly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The affected parameters in these web applications fail to properly sanitize user input, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the victim's browser context. The attack requires no authentication and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where SDE is deployed. When users navigate to pages containing the vulnerable parameters, the malicious code executes in their browser session, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire service desk environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-4946 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks within the enterprise network. Attackers could leverage these vulnerabilities to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject malicious code that persists across user sessions. Given that BMC Service Desk Express is commonly used for managing critical IT service operations, successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive service desk data, disruption of IT service management processes, and potential data breaches. The vulnerability's presence in administrative pages like QV_admin.aspx increases the risk of privilege escalation attacks, as attackers could potentially gain elevated access rights within the service desk environment.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in the vulnerable web pages. The recommended approach involves implementing proper parameter sanitization techniques that prevent malicious script execution while maintaining application functionality. Security patches from BMC should be deployed as soon as available, and network segmentation should be considered to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regular security monitoring can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and input validation, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.005 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to execute malicious code within the browser environment. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular penetration testing to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their IT service management infrastructure.