CVE-2016-4316 in Carbon
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in WSO2 Carbon 4.4.5 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the (1) setName parameter to identity-mgt/challenges-mgt.jsp; the (2) webappType or (3) httpPort parameter to webapp-list/webapp_info.jsp; the (4) dsName or (5) description parameter to ndatasource/newdatasource.jsp; the (6) phase parameter to viewflows/handlers.jsp; or the (7) url parameter to ndatasource/validateconnection-ajaxprocessor.jsp.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2024
The CVE-2016-4316 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting WSO2 Carbon 4.4.5, a widely used enterprise integration platform that serves as the foundation for various WSO2 products including identity and access management solutions. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within multiple web application components, creating multiple attack vectors that collectively weaken the platform's security posture. The affected parameters span across several administrative interfaces, indicating a systemic issue in the platform's data handling architecture rather than isolated component failures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through parameter manipulation in specific.jsp files within the WSO2 Carbon web application. Attackers can inject malicious scripts through the setName parameter in identity-mgt/challenges-mgt.jsp, or through webappType and httpPort parameters in webapp-list/webapp_info.jsp, among other vectors. These parameters are processed without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code that executes in the context of authenticated users' browsers. The vulnerability manifests as a classic XSS flaw, specifically categorized under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into web responses without adequate encoding or validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code in the context of authenticated users, potentially leading to complete account compromise, data theft, or privilege escalation within the WSO2 environment. Given that WSO2 Carbon typically operates in sensitive enterprise environments with administrative access, successful exploitation could allow attackers to access identity management systems, modify user accounts, or gain unauthorized access to protected resources. The attack vectors cover multiple administrative interfaces, suggesting that an attacker could potentially compromise various aspects of the platform's functionality, from data source management to workflow handling, creating a broad attack surface that could be leveraged for further exploitation.
Security professionals should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all web application interfaces, particularly focusing on parameters handling user-supplied data in the affected.jsp files. The remediation strategy should include parameter validation, HTML encoding of all user inputs before rendering, and the implementation of Content Security Policy headers to mitigate the impact of potential XSS attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing Web Application Firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, while conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their WSO2 deployment. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 - Phishing, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access through malicious script injection. Organizations must also consider the broader implications of this vulnerability within their security architecture, particularly regarding the principle of least privilege and the protection of administrative interfaces that are often targeted in advanced persistent threat campaigns.