CVE-2014-3654 in Network Satellite
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in spacewalk-java 2.0.2 in Spacewalk and Red Hat Network (RHN) Satellite 5.5 and 5.6 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors to (1) kickstart/cobbler/CustomSnippetList.do, (2) channels/software/Entitlements.do, or (3) admin/multiorg/OrgUsers.do.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3654 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting the spacewalk-java component in Spacewalk and Red Hat Network Satellite versions 5.5 and 5.6. This vulnerability resides within the web application interface of these systems, specifically targeting three distinct endpoints that handle administrative and configuration functions. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of authenticated user sessions, potentially compromising the security posture of enterprise environments that rely on these systems for system management and software distribution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the affected web pages. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that are then processed and rendered by the vulnerable application without proper sanitization. The three identified attack vectors correspond to different functional areas of the management interface: kickstart/cobbler/CustomSnippetList.do handles custom installation snippets, channels/software/Entitlements.do manages software entitlements and channel configurations, and admin/multiorg/OrgUsers.do controls organizational user management. Each of these endpoints fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in web responses, creating opportunities for persistent or reflected XSS attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to compromised systems. Successful exploitation allows threat actors to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of legitimate users, access sensitive configuration data, and potentially escalate privileges within the management environment. Given that these systems typically serve as central points for enterprise system management, the compromise of any user session could provide attackers with extensive access to network infrastructure, software deployment configurations, and organizational user data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where these systems manage critical infrastructure components and software distribution across multiple organizational units.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including input validation controls, output encoding, and web application firewalls to protect against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which classifies cross-site scripting as a common weakness in web applications, and maps to attack techniques in the ATT&CK framework under T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for phishing. Organizations should prioritize patching the affected versions of Spacewalk and Red Hat Network Satellite, implementing proper input sanitization across all user-facing interfaces, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring controls should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, while security awareness training should emphasize the risks of interacting with untrusted content in management interfaces.