CVE-2014-3432 in Data Insight
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the management console in Symantec Data Insight 3.x and 4.x before 4.5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via an unspecified form field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3432 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the management console of Symantec Data Insight versions 3.x and 4.x prior to 4.5. This weakness resides in the web application's input validation mechanisms, specifically within an unspecified form field that processes user-supplied data without proper sanitization or encoding. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a code injection attack where malicious scripts are executed in the victim's browser context. The attack vector is remote, meaning that adversaries can exploit this flaw from outside the target network without requiring authentication or physical access to the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the Symantec Data Insight management interface. When users submit data through the affected form field, the application fails to properly sanitize the input before rendering it in the web response. This creates an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that will execute in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected page. The flaw affects both major version lines of the software, indicating a fundamental architectural issue within the web application framework that was not adequately addressed in the security hardening process. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning given that the management console typically contains sensitive administrative functions and access to critical system information.
From an operational perspective, this XSS vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing Symantec Data Insight systems. Attackers could exploit this weakness to hijack user sessions, steal administrative credentials, or redirect users to malicious websites for phishing attacks. The potential for privilege escalation exists if the affected console provides access to sensitive system configurations or data analysis capabilities. The vulnerability's presence in both versions 3.x and 4.x suggests a widespread exposure across the product lifecycle, potentially affecting numerous enterprise environments that rely on Symantec's data insight solutions. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to critical business intelligence data, disruption of system operations, and potential data exfiltration through the execution of malicious scripts that could capture user input or transmit information to external attacker-controlled servers.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3432 should prioritize immediate remediation through the installation of Symantec's official security patches or updates that address the input validation deficiencies in the management console. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures including proper HTML encoding of all user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses, which aligns with recommended practices from the OWASP Top Ten security framework. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the management console to trusted users only, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Regular security assessments and web application firewalls should be deployed to detect and prevent malicious input attempts. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of clicking suspicious links or entering untrusted data into web applications remains crucial. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies as recommended by the MITRE ATT&CK framework's web application attack patterns, where persistent exploitation of such flaws can lead to broader system compromise and persistent access within enterprise environments.