CVE-2016-2103 in Satellite
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Red Hat Satellite 5 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the list_1680466951_oldfilterval parameter to systems/PhysicalList.do or (2) unspecified vectors involving systems/VirtualSystemsList.do.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2103 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness affecting Red Hat Satellite 5 systems, a comprehensive systems management platform widely deployed in enterprise environments. This vulnerability resides within the web application layer of the satellite management interface, specifically targeting the handling of user-supplied input parameters that are subsequently rendered without adequate sanitization or encoding. The affected components include the PhysicalList.do and VirtualSystemsList.do servlets, which process system inventory and virtualization data respectively, making them prime targets for malicious actors seeking to exploit the platform's administrative interface.
The technical flaw manifests through improper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Red Hat Satellite 5 web application. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting malicious payloads and injecting them through the list_1680466951_oldfilterval parameter in the PhysicalList.do endpoint, or through unspecified vectors in the VirtualSystemsList.do endpoint. These parameters are processed server-side and then directly embedded into HTML responses without appropriate sanitization measures, creating conditions where malicious scripts can execute within the context of authenticated user sessions. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, specifically targeting the failure to properly encode output for web browsers. This weakness allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized administrative actions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a foothold to escalate privileges within the satellite management environment. Given that Red Hat Satellite 5 is typically deployed in enterprise settings where it manages critical system inventories and virtualization resources, successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information, manipulate system configurations, or even execute arbitrary commands on managed systems. The vulnerability particularly affects authenticated users who maintain access to the satellite interface, as the attack vector requires valid session credentials to be effective. This creates a significant risk for organizations that rely on satellite for system monitoring and management, as compromised sessions could lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to the entire managed infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding controls to prevent the injection of malicious scripts into web responses. The recommended approach involves implementing proper parameter sanitization for all user-supplied input parameters, particularly those used in dynamic content generation. Security patches should be applied immediately to address the root cause of the vulnerability, with network segmentation and monitoring of web application traffic to detect potential exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as exploitation requires JavaScript injection capabilities. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities in the future, while also conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in their system management infrastructure.