CVE-2014-7811 in Spacewalk
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Spacewalk and Red Hat Network (RHN) Satellite before 5.7.0 allow remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via crafted XML data to the REST API.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7811 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting Spacewalk and Red Hat Network (RHN) Satellite platforms prior to version 5.7.0. This issue stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the REST API endpoints that process XML data submissions, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML content within the context of affected systems. The vulnerability specifically targets authenticated users who possess valid credentials to access the platform, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative privileges are commonly used. The attack vector exploits the lack of proper sanitization of XML input data, allowing attackers to inject malicious payloads that can be executed when the malformed data is processed by the application's backend systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the REST API interface where XML data is accepted for processing. When authenticated users submit crafted XML payloads containing malicious script code, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize the input before processing it within the application's data handling workflows. This processing occurs without adequate protection mechanisms such as input filtering, output encoding, or proper XML schema validation, enabling the injected code to persist and execute in the context of other users' sessions. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, where the system fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing Spacewalk or RHN Satellite platforms for system management and monitoring. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can potentially steal session cookies, perform unauthorized administrative actions, access sensitive system information, or redirect users to malicious websites. The authenticated nature of the attack means that even limited user accounts could be leveraged to escalate privileges or access confidential data, particularly when the platform handles sensitive system configuration information or user management functions. The impact extends beyond individual user sessions to potentially compromise entire system management infrastructures, especially in enterprise environments where these platforms serve as central management hubs for large-scale deployments.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Spacewalk or RHN Satellite version 5.7.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation deficiencies. Additionally, implementing proper XML input sanitization mechanisms, enforcing strict content type validation, and deploying web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous API usage patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers 'Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell' and related techniques, as the injected scripts could potentially be used to execute further malicious commands within the compromised system environment. Regular security assessments and input validation testing should be conducted to ensure that similar vulnerabilities are not present in other components of the system architecture.