CVE-2015-9281 in Web Infrastructure Platform
Summary
by MITRE
Logon Manager in SAS Web Infrastructure Platform before 9.4M3 allows reflected XSS on the Timeout page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9281 affects the Logon Manager component within the SAS Web Infrastructure Platform version 9.4M3 and earlier. This security flaw resides in the timeout page functionality where reflected cross-site scripting attacks can be executed. The vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the platform's web application security architecture that could potentially allow attackers to inject malicious scripts into the timeout page, thereby compromising user sessions and potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data and system resources. The affected component operates as part of the authentication and session management infrastructure, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit user trust and session integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the timeout page handler. When users experience session timeouts, the system displays a timeout page that incorporates user-supplied parameters without proper sanitization or encoding. This creates an environment where malicious actors can craft specially formatted URLs containing script payloads that get reflected back to users when the timeout page is rendered. The reflected nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious script code is not stored on the server but is instead injected through user input and immediately executed in the victim's browser context. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically manifesting as reflected cross-site scripting.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to hijack user sessions, steal authentication tokens, and potentially gain access to restricted system functionalities. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to redirect users to malicious sites, harvest session cookies, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The attack vector typically involves sending a crafted link to a victim user who, upon experiencing a timeout, clicks the malicious link and triggers the reflected script execution. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations using SAS Web Infrastructure Platform for business intelligence and data analytics, where sensitive corporate data and intellectual property are processed. The risk is amplified in environments where users have elevated privileges or access to critical business systems, as successful exploitation could lead to comprehensive system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-9281 should prioritize immediate patching of the SAS Web Infrastructure Platform to version 9.4M3 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive web application firewall rules to detect and block suspicious input patterns that could indicate XSS attempts. The security architecture should incorporate strict input validation at all entry points, particularly those handling user-supplied parameters in timeout or session-related pages. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against reflected XSS attacks by restricting script execution sources. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in web applications, following ATT&CK framework guidance for web application security testing. The remediation process should also include user education about phishing risks and suspicious link behavior, as social engineering often complements technical exploitation of such vulnerabilities. Organizations utilizing SAS products should maintain updated security patches and monitoring procedures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in their web infrastructure components.