CVE-2014-3492 in Foreman
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the host YAML view in Foreman before 1.4.5 and 1.5.x before 1.5.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a parameter (1) name or (2) value related to the host.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3492 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting the Foreman configuration management platform. This vulnerability specifically targets the host YAML view functionality within Foreman versions prior to 1.4.5 and 1.5.x versions before 1.5.1, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this system for infrastructure management. The flaw resides in how the application processes user-supplied parameters during host data rendering, particularly in the handling of name and value parameters within the YAML view context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Foreman application's host YAML rendering component. When attackers provide malicious input through the name or value parameters, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape the data before displaying it in the web interface. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary JavaScript code or HTML content that executes in the context of other users' browsers who view the affected host information. The vulnerability manifests as a classic reflected XSS attack vector, where malicious payloads are reflected back to users through the application's response.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-3492 extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it enables attackers to potentially hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, or perform unauthorized actions within the Foreman environment. An attacker could craft malicious host entries with embedded scripts that would execute whenever legitimate users view the host details, potentially leading to complete system compromise if users have administrative privileges. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of Foreman's host management, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that depend on this platform for critical infrastructure configuration and monitoring.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to Foreman versions 1.4.5 or 1.5.1 and later, which contain the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerabilities. Additional mitigations include implementing proper input validation at multiple layers, enforcing strict output encoding for all user-provided data, and establishing comprehensive web application firewall rules to detect and block suspicious payloads. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a common attack pattern documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of web application attacks. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the configuration management infrastructure.