CVE-2013-5588 in Cacti
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Cacti 0.8.8b and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the step parameter to install/index.php or (2) the id parameter to cacti/host.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-5588 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Cacti versions 0.8.8b and earlier, which are widely used network monitoring and graphing applications. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input parameters within two distinct endpoints, creating opportunities for attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users' browsers. The affected parameters include the step parameter in the install/index.php file and the id parameter in the cacti/host.php file, both of which fail to properly sanitize or validate incoming data before incorporating it into dynamic web content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper handling of HTTP parameters that are directly reflected in the application's output without adequate input validation or output encoding mechanisms. When an attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or other HTML content and submits it through either the step or id parameters, the vulnerable application processes this input without sufficient sanitization, allowing the injected code to execute in the victim's browser when the affected page is rendered. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, where the weakness allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-5588 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, redirect users to malicious sites, or even execute arbitrary commands on the affected system. Given that Cacti is commonly used for network monitoring and system administration, successful exploitation could provide attackers with access to network infrastructure monitoring data, potentially exposing critical system information, network topology details, and performance metrics that could be leveraged for further attacks. The vulnerability affects both installation and host management functionalities, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited during the initial setup phase or while managing existing network devices within the monitoring environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of affected Cacti installations to version 0.8.8c or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the XSS flaws. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application, ensuring that all user-supplied parameters are sanitized before being processed or displayed. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script injection attacks, while regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the monitoring infrastructure. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering tactics involving the delivery of malicious code through web-based attacks, emphasizing the importance of maintaining up-to-date web applications and implementing robust security controls to prevent such exploitation opportunities.