CVE-2014-0141 in Satellite
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Red Hat Satellite 6.0.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2019
The CVE-2014-0141 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Red Hat Satellite 6.0.3, a systems management platform widely deployed in enterprise environments. This vulnerability resides within the web interface of the satellite server, which serves as a central management point for Red Hat Enterprise Linux systems. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, potentially compromising the security of the entire management infrastructure. The vulnerability specifically affects the way the application processes and displays user-supplied input within the web interface, creating an environment where malicious code can execute in the context of authenticated users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Red Hat Satellite web application. When users submit data through various interface elements such as search fields, configuration parameters, or management inputs, the application fails to properly sanitize this data before rendering it in web responses. This improper handling creates a pathway for attackers to embed malicious javascript payloads that execute when other users view affected pages. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because Red Hat Satellite serves as a centralized management platform where administrators and users frequently interact with sensitive system information, making the potential attack surface significant. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various vectors including reflected and stored XSS techniques, depending on how the input data is processed and stored within the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-0141 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised environment. An attacker could potentially steal session cookies, allowing them to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to the satellite management interface. This access could then be leveraged to modify system configurations, deploy malicious software across managed systems, or extract sensitive configuration data. The vulnerability's presence in a systems management platform like Red Hat Satellite creates a particularly dangerous scenario, as it could provide attackers with elevated privileges within the enterprise infrastructure. Additionally, the attack could be used to establish persistent access points or to conduct further reconnaissance activities against other systems within the network that are managed through the satellite platform. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script execution, potentially enabling lateral movement and privilege escalation within the managed environment.
Organizations utilizing Red Hat Satellite 6.0.3 should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability, including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates. Network segmentation and monitoring of web traffic can help detect potential exploitation attempts, while implementing proper input validation and output encoding practices should be prioritized for future development. Administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls and strict content security policies to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of management interfaces. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their satellite deployments and ensure that all systems are updated to versions that contain the necessary security fixes. The incident underscores the necessity of maintaining current security patches and implementing robust security monitoring practices to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts in enterprise management platforms.