CVE-2014-7812 in Spacewalk
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Spacewalk and Red Hat Network (RHN) Satellite before 5.7.0 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the System Groups field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2022
The CVE-2014-7812 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Spacewalk and Red Hat Network Satellite platforms prior to version 5.7.0. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user input within the System Groups field, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by authenticated attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before rendering it within web pages. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that enables attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated user to leverage their existing privileges within the system to inject malicious payloads into the System Groups field. Once the malicious input is processed and displayed in the web interface, it can execute in the context of other authenticated users who view the affected pages. This creates a dangerous scenario where attackers can potentially steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of victims, or redirect users to malicious websites. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege and input sanitization, as the application does not properly validate or sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamic web content. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where these platforms manage critical system configurations and user access controls.
Operational consequences of CVE-2014-7812 extend beyond simple script injection, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks within the compromised environment. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, access sensitive system information, or manipulate system group configurations that control access to various system resources. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire platform, as it can be used to create persistent backdoors or exfiltrate data from authenticated sessions. Organizations using affected versions of Spacewalk or RHN Satellite face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential data breaches, particularly in environments where these platforms manage critical infrastructure and system configurations. The vulnerability also impacts the platform's overall security posture by undermining user trust and potentially enabling lateral movement within the network.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7812 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to version 5.7.0 or later, which includes proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization policies that enforce strict validation of all user-supplied data, particularly in fields that are rendered in web interfaces. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts even if the vulnerability is exploited. Regular security assessments and code reviews should focus on input handling mechanisms, with particular attention to fields that are dynamically rendered in web contexts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious requests targeting known vulnerable parameters. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to OWASP Top Ten security guidelines, particularly those addressing input validation and output encoding. Additionally, security awareness training for administrators and users can help identify potential exploitation attempts and reduce the likelihood of successful attacks.