CVE-2016-6519 in Manila
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the "Shares" overview in Openstack Manila before 2.5.1 allows remote authenticated users to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the Metadata field in the "Create Share" form.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6519 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Openstack Manila service, specifically affecting versions prior to 2.5.1. This vulnerability resides in the "Shares" overview component of the Manila dashboard, which serves as the primary user interface for managing shared storage resources within the Openstack environment. The flaw enables authenticated attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code through a carefully crafted input in the Metadata field during share creation, potentially compromising the security of the entire cloud infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the Manila dashboard's user interface. When administrators or users create shares through the web interface, they can populate metadata fields with arbitrary content that should be properly escaped and validated before being rendered in the browser. The vulnerability occurs because the application fails to adequately sanitize user-provided metadata values before displaying them in the Shares overview page, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. This represents a classic XSS vulnerability categorized under CWE-79, which specifically addresses the improper handling of user-supplied data in web applications. The flaw is particularly concerning because it requires only authentication to exploit, meaning that any user with valid credentials can potentially leverage this vulnerability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised environment. An attacker could inject scripts that steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify share properties, or even execute commands with the privileges of the affected user. In a cloud environment where Manila manages shared storage resources, this vulnerability could allow attackers to access sensitive data stored in shared volumes, potentially compromising the confidentiality and integrity of the entire storage infrastructure. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it operates through the legitimate web interface that administrators regularly use, making detection more difficult and exploitation more likely to succeed. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566.001 for spearphishing via social engineering, as attackers can use the XSS to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within the cloud environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the Manila service to version 2.5.1 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation across all user-facing interfaces, ensuring that metadata fields and other user-provided content are properly escaped before rendering in web pages. Security measures should include implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conducting regular security assessments of cloud management interfaces. Additionally, organizations should enforce least privilege access controls, monitor user activities for suspicious behavior, and maintain up-to-date security patches across all Openstack components. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in cloud infrastructure management, emphasizing that even authenticated users with legitimate access can pose significant risks if proper security controls are not implemented.