CVE-2014-3738 in Zenoss
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Zenoss 4.2.5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the title of a device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3738 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Zenoss 4.2.5, a widely used network monitoring and management platform. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of device title inputs, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of authenticated users' browsers. The affected system processes user-supplied device titles without adequate sanitization, allowing attackers to embed malicious scripts that can be executed when other users view the compromised device information.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. This particular implementation allows attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML content through the device title field, which serves as an entry point for executing malicious payloads. The vulnerability is classified as remote and unauthenticated, meaning attackers can exploit it without requiring prior system access or credentials, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Zenoss is deployed. The attack vector specifically targets the device management interface where users interact with device information, making it accessible to any user with appropriate privileges to add or modify device entries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, and privilege escalation within the Zenoss environment. When authenticated users view the compromised device information containing malicious scripts, these scripts execute in the context of their browser sessions, potentially allowing attackers to access sensitive monitoring data, modify device configurations, or even escalate their privileges within the system. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on Zenoss for critical infrastructure monitoring, as it could compromise the integrity of their monitoring data and potentially provide attackers with insights into network topology and device configurations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all user-supplied content, particularly within the device management components of Zenoss. The recommended approach involves implementing strict sanitization of device title fields to remove or encode potentially dangerous characters such as angle brackets, script tags, and event handlers. Security patches should be applied immediately to upgrade to versions of Zenoss that address this vulnerability, as the vendor has likely released fixes in subsequent releases. Network segmentation and monitoring of device management interfaces can help detect anomalous activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regular security assessments of the Zenoss environment can provide layered protection against similar vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for credential access, highlighting the potential for both code execution and unauthorized access that organizations must defend against through comprehensive security controls.