CVE-2015-1483 in NetBackup
Summary
by MITRE
Symantec NetBackup OpsCenter 7.6.0.2 through 7.6.1 on Linux and UNIX allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2017
Symantec NetBackup OpsCenter version 7.6.0.2 through 7.6.1 on Linux and UNIX platforms contains a critical vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability represents a severe security flaw that could allow unauthorized individuals to gain control over affected systems and potentially escalate their privileges within the network environment. The vulnerability exists within the web-based administrative interface of the NetBackup OpsCenter component, which is designed to provide centralized management and monitoring capabilities for Symantec NetBackup environments. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests that multiple pathways may exist for exploitation, potentially including cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, insecure input validation, or improper output encoding mechanisms within the web interface components.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of proper input sanitization and output encoding controls within the web application layer of NetBackup OpsCenter. When users interact with the web interface, the application fails to adequately validate or sanitize user-supplied data before processing or rendering it within the browser context. This weakness creates an environment where malicious JavaScript code can be injected and subsequently executed within the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows remote code execution without requiring authentication or specific user interaction beyond accessing the vulnerable web interface. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that exploit the input validation gaps and inject JavaScript code that executes in the browser of any user who accesses the compromised interface. This type of vulnerability is classified as a cross-site scripting attack pattern and aligns with CWE-79, which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation in a web application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple code execution, potentially allowing attackers to compromise entire NetBackup environments and gain access to sensitive backup data and system configurations. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to perform session hijacking, steal administrative credentials, modify backup policies, or even access the underlying storage systems managed by NetBackup. The implications are particularly severe for organizations that rely heavily on backup infrastructure for disaster recovery and data protection, as the compromise of NetBackup OpsCenter could result in complete data loss or unauthorized access to critical backup repositories. The vulnerability affects the management layer of Symantec's backup solution, meaning that successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of the backup infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate backup schedules, delete backups, or even gain access to the backup storage devices themselves. Organizations using the affected versions of NetBackup OpsCenter face significant risk of data breaches and operational disruptions, as the vulnerability could be exploited by attackers from outside the network perimeter.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate application of Symantec's security patches and updates, which would address the underlying input validation and output encoding flaws. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the NetBackup OpsCenter interface, restrict administrative access through firewalls, and employ web application firewalls to detect and block malicious JavaScript injection attempts. The implementation of strict input validation controls, output encoding, and proper session management mechanisms would help prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their backup infrastructure, review access controls and authentication mechanisms, and implement monitoring solutions to detect suspicious activities within the NetBackup environment. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies for critical infrastructure components. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for JavaScript execution, highlighting the need for proper input validation and output encoding controls to prevent such attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls for NetBackup administrative interfaces and establish regular security audits to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their infrastructure.