CVE-2016-0919 in RSA Web Threat Detection
Summary
by MITRE
EMC RSA Web Threat Detection version 5.0, RSA Web Threat Detection version 5.1, RSA Web Threat Detection version 5.1.2 has a cross site scripting vulnerability that could potentially be exploited by malicious users to compromise the affected system.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0919 affects EMC RSA Web Threat Detection versions 5.0, 5.1, and 5.1.2, representing a critical cross site scripting flaw that exposes these security systems to potential exploitation by threat actors. This vulnerability resides within the web interface of the RSA Web Threat Detection platform, which is designed to monitor and analyze network traffic for malicious activity. The affected system serves as a crucial component in enterprise security infrastructure, making this vulnerability particularly concerning as it could potentially allow attackers to compromise the entire detection environment. The flaw manifests in the web application layer where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to users, creating an opening for malicious script injection.
The technical implementation of this cross site scripting vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of input parameters within the web interface components. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when executed, would run within the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially enabling them to steal session cookies, modify data, or redirect users to malicious sites. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross site scripting flaws in software applications. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be executed through standard web browser interactions, making it particularly dangerous in environments where security administrators and analysts regularly access the web interface. The attack vector typically involves embedding malicious javascript code within parameters that are then processed by the vulnerable application.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0919 extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to the threat detection system itself. This compromise would enable malicious actors to manipulate security events, hide malicious activity from detection, or even use the compromised system as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability directly affects the integrity and availability of the security monitoring infrastructure, potentially leading to false negatives in threat detection or complete system compromise. Organizations relying on RSA Web Threat Detection for their security operations would face significant risk if this vulnerability were exploited, as it could undermine the trustworthiness of their security monitoring capabilities and potentially allow advanced persistent threats to remain undetected.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, with organizations implementing the vendor-provided security updates as a critical priority. The remediation process involves applying the official EMC patches that address the input validation issues within the web interface components. Network segmentation and monitoring of web traffic can serve as additional defensive measures, helping to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Security teams should also implement web application firewalls to filter malicious requests before they reach the vulnerable application components. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security software and highlights the need for regular security assessments of web-based management interfaces. Organizations should consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and multi-factor authentication for administrative access to prevent exploitation even if the web interface is compromised. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under web application attacks and emphasizes the importance of input validation controls to prevent such exploitation patterns.