CVE-2016-0900 in RSA Authentication Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in EMC RSA Authentication Manager before 8.1 SP1 P14 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-0901.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2022
The CVE-2016-0900 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within EMC RSA Authentication Manager versions prior to 8.1 SP1 P14. This vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of affected systems, potentially compromising user sessions and sensitive authentication data. The flaw operates through unspecified vectors that differ from the related CVE-2016-0901 vulnerability, indicating a distinct attack surface within the authentication manager's codebase. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in authentication systems where user credentials and session tokens are handled, as they can lead to complete system compromise through session hijacking or credential theft.
This XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the RSA Authentication Manager's web interface components. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the browser of authenticated users, potentially enabling them to access sensitive administrative functions, steal session cookies, or manipulate authentication flows. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests multiple entry points within the application's user input handling, including form fields, URL parameters, or API endpoints that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks within the authentication ecosystem. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to perform session hijacking, access privileged administrative interfaces, or manipulate user authentication states. The implications are particularly severe given that RSA Authentication Manager serves as a critical component in enterprise security infrastructure, where compromised authentication systems can lead to widespread unauthorized access across networked environments. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can enable lateral movement within corporate networks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patch for EMC RSA Authentication Manager 8.1 SP1 P14, which addresses the specific XSS vulnerability. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, while comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures should be implemented across all user-facing web applications. Regular security assessments and penetration testing are essential to identify similar vulnerabilities in authentication systems, as these components represent high-value targets for adversaries seeking persistent access to enterprise environments. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a significant concern within the ATT&CK framework's credential access and persistence categories, particularly under techniques involving web application exploitation and session management compromise.