CVE-2014-7280 in Nessus
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Web UI before 2.3.4 Build #85 for Tenable Nessus 5.x allows remote web servers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the server header.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2024
The CVE-2014-7280 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Tenable Nessus 5.x versions prior to 2.3.4 Build #85 within the Web User Interface component. This vulnerability specifically targets the server header handling mechanism, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts on affected systems. The flaw exists in the web interface's improper validation and sanitization of server header inputs, which are typically used for HTTP communication and server identification purposes. When the web UI processes these headers without adequate security measures, it inadvertently allows malicious code injection that can be executed in the context of a user's browser session.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of HTTP server headers, particularly those that are processed and displayed within the web interface. Attackers can craft malicious server headers containing script payloads that get rendered in the web UI, enabling them to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the victim's browser. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the web application layer, where it can leverage the trust relationship between the user's browser and the vulnerable Nessus web interface. The attack vector is remote and requires no authentication, making it accessible to any attacker who can influence HTTP headers sent to the Nessus server.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using Tenable Nessus for security scanning and network assessment. The compromised web interface could allow attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users, or redirect victims to malicious websites. The impact extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration from the Nessus environment. Organizations relying on Nessus for vulnerability management face potential exposure of sensitive security data and compromised scanning capabilities. This vulnerability also represents a critical weakness in the security posture of the scanning infrastructure itself, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to the security scanning environment and its associated data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7280 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Nessus installations to version 2.3.4 Build #85 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization for server headers. Network administrators should implement additional defensive measures such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious header content, along with regular monitoring of web interface logs for unusual header patterns. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script execution in the browser context. Organizations should also consider restricting access to the Nessus web interface through network segmentation and authentication controls, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access the vulnerable interface. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers the use of malicious web content for initial access and privilege escalation, highlighting the importance of comprehensive web security measures in security tooling environments. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other security tools within the organization's infrastructure, as this type of flaw can potentially exist in other components of the security ecosystem.