CVE-2014-2329 in Check_MK
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Check_MK before 1.2.2p3 and 1.2.3x before 1.2.3i5 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) agent string for a check_mk agent, a (2) crafted request to a monitored host, which is not properly handled by the logwatch module, or other unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2329 represents a significant security flaw in Check_MK monitoring software that affects versions prior to 1.2.2p3 and 1.2.3x before 1.2.3i5. This issue manifests as multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that enable authenticated attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of the affected system. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the monitoring platform's handling of various user-supplied data streams.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through three distinct attack vectors that collectively demonstrate the breadth of the security weakness. The first vector involves manipulation of the agent string used by the check_mk agent, where attackers can inject malicious code that gets executed when the monitoring system processes agent reports. The second vector targets the logwatch module, which fails to properly sanitize crafted requests sent to monitored hosts, allowing attackers to inject malicious content through log file analysis. The third vector remains unspecified but indicates that the vulnerability extends beyond these two primary attack surfaces, suggesting a systemic issue with input handling throughout the application's architecture.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-2329 is substantial for organizations relying on Check_MK for system monitoring and network infrastructure management. Successful exploitation allows authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code within the browser context of legitimate users who interact with the monitoring interface. This capability enables attackers to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, modifying monitoring data, redirecting users to malicious websites, or exfiltrating sensitive information from the monitoring environment. The authenticated nature of the attack means that attackers must first compromise legitimate user credentials, but once achieved, they can leverage the monitoring system's trusted status to bypass traditional security controls.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in security-critical systems. The attack patterns associated with this vulnerability map to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachment, as attackers can use the XSS capabilities to deliver additional malicious payloads. The affected Check_MK environment represents a prime target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to network monitoring infrastructure, which often contains sensitive operational data and serves as a critical component of enterprise security monitoring.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of Check_MK, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block XSS attempts, and establishing robust input validation procedures for all user-supplied data. Additional protective measures should include network segmentation to limit access to monitoring systems, regular security audits of monitoring infrastructure, and user education regarding the risks of clicking suspicious links within monitoring interfaces. The vulnerability also underscores the necessity of maintaining current security patches and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in monitoring and management systems.