CVE-2014-3653 in Foreman
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the template preview function in Foreman before 1.6.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted provisioning template.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2022
The CVE-2014-3653 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Foreman systems management platform, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.6.1. This vulnerability resides in the template preview functionality, which is a core feature designed to allow administrators to visualize provisioning templates before deployment. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content through carefully crafted provisioning templates, potentially compromising the security of the entire management infrastructure. Foreman, being a comprehensive tool for provisioning and managing large-scale infrastructure, makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could affect organizations relying on its template preview capabilities for system administration tasks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the template preview function. When users attempt to preview provisioning templates, the system fails to properly escape or filter user-supplied content before rendering it in the web interface. This lack of proper sanitization creates an XSS attack vector where malicious actors can embed JavaScript code or HTML elements within template parameters. The vulnerability specifically affects the provisioning template preview mechanism, which is commonly used by system administrators to test configuration templates before deploying them across multiple systems. Attackers can exploit this by creating malicious templates containing script tags or other HTML elements that execute when the preview function renders the content, thereby bypassing normal security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities within the context of the victim's browser session. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, modify the web interface content, or even execute arbitrary commands if the attacker has sufficient privileges within the Foreman environment. The risk is particularly elevated in multi-user environments where administrators frequently use the template preview function, as the attack could compromise not just the individual user but potentially affect other system administrators with elevated privileges. This vulnerability undermines the trust model of the Foreman platform and could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive infrastructure management functions.
Organizations should immediately implement several mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary and most effective solution involves upgrading to Foreman version 1.6.1 or later, which includes proper input validation and output sanitization measures. Additionally, administrators should review and restrict access to template preview functionality for users who do not require it, implementing the principle of least privilege. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth, though they are not substitutes for proper application-level fixes. Security teams should also implement regular monitoring for suspicious template creation activities and establish clear policies for template review and approval processes. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input sanitization can lead to severe security consequences in web applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the technique of "Web Application Attack" with potential lateral movement implications through session hijacking or credential theft, making it a critical target for both defensive and offensive security teams to address.