CVE-2016-10201 in ZoneMinder
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Zoneminder 1.30 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the format parameter in a download log request to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2020
The CVE-2016-10201 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in ZoneMinder version 1.30 and earlier systems. This vulnerability exists within the web application's handling of user-supplied input through the format parameter in download log requests directed to the index.php endpoint. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially compromising user security and data integrity. ZoneMinder, a popular open-source video management system used for surveillance camera monitoring, was particularly susceptible to this type of attack due to insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious request to the index.php script with a specially formatted format parameter that contains embedded script code. When the web application processes this request and subsequently renders the log data without proper sanitization, the injected malicious script executes in the victim's browser environment. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where applications fail to properly validate or escape user-controllable data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, redirect users to malicious sites, or deface the web interface.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-10201 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to surveillance system functionalities and user data. Given that ZoneMinder systems are commonly deployed in security-sensitive environments such as businesses, residential properties, and industrial facilities, this vulnerability could allow unauthorized individuals to compromise the integrity of video surveillance data. Attackers could potentially inject scripts that redirect users to phishing sites, steal authentication cookies, or even manipulate the surveillance system's configuration parameters. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on ZoneMinder for security monitoring.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to ZoneMinder versions 1.31 and later, which contain patches addressing this vulnerability. Input validation measures should be strengthened to sanitize all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in dynamic content generation. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against script injection attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Security professionals should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests targeting this vulnerability. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for phishing techniques, as attackers could leverage it to deliver malicious payloads through social engineering campaigns targeting system administrators or end-users. Regular security assessments and input validation testing should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other components of the surveillance infrastructure.