CVE-2014-5338 in Check Mk
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the multisite component in Check_MK before 1.2.4p4 and 1.2.5 before 1.2.5i4 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors to the (1) render_status_icons function in htmllib.py or (2) ajax_action function in actions.py.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5338 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within the multisite component of Check_MK monitoring software. This issue affects versions prior to 1.2.4p4 and 1.2.5i4, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this network monitoring solution. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's web interface, specifically within two distinct functions that handle user data processing. Check_MK is widely used for system and network monitoring, making this vulnerability particularly concerning as it could be exploited by authenticated attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of affected users' browsers.
The technical flaw manifests in two primary attack vectors within the multisite component. The first vector involves the render_status_icons function located in the htmllib.py file, while the second vector targets the ajax_action function found in actions.py. Both functions fail to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated HTML content. This allows authenticated attackers with valid credentials to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML elements through unspecified input parameters. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize or encode output, which directly enables cross-site scripting attacks. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary scripts in victims' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or privilege escalation within the monitoring environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, creating potential for significant compromise of monitoring systems that rely on Check_MK. An authenticated attacker could craft malicious payloads that would execute when other users view system status pages or interact with the monitoring interface. This could result in unauthorized access to sensitive monitoring data, manipulation of system status indicators, or even complete takeover of user sessions within the Check_MK environment. The attack requires authentication, which limits the scope to users with valid accounts, but this still represents a substantial risk in environments where monitoring system access is not strictly controlled. Organizations using Check_MK for critical infrastructure monitoring face potential exposure to insider threats or compromised accounts that could lead to widespread security incidents. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566.001 for credential access through web application attacks, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where monitoring systems are central to security operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5338 focus primarily on immediate version upgrades to patched releases of Check_MK. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to versions 1.2.4p4 or 1.2.5i4, which contain the necessary fixes for the XSS vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application code can serve as defensive measures, though these are less effective than the official patches. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit the potential impact of compromised accounts, while monitoring for suspicious activity in the monitoring interface can help detect exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit this vulnerability, though the most effective solution remains the official software update. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning of monitoring systems should be conducted to identify similar issues in other components of the security infrastructure that could present similar attack vectors.