CVE-2016-8583 in OSSIM
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple GET parameters in the vulnerability scan scheduler of AlienVault OSSIM and USM before 5.3.2 are vulnerable to reflected XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8583 affects AlienVault OSSIM and USM platforms prior to version 5.3.2, specifically targeting the vulnerability scan scheduler component. This issue manifests as a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability that impacts multiple GET parameters within the web interface. The vulnerability exists in the way the application processes user-supplied input from HTTP GET requests without adequate sanitization or output encoding, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the victim's browser context. The affected system processes these parameters in a manner that fails to properly escape or validate input before rendering it in web responses, thereby enabling attackers to craft malicious URLs that can execute code within the context of authenticated users.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the vulnerability scan scheduler functionality. When users navigate to specific URLs containing crafted GET parameters, the application fails to properly sanitize these inputs before including them in HTTP responses. This reflected XSS vulnerability allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts that execute in the victim's browser when they access the specially crafted URL. The vulnerability affects multiple GET parameters, indicating a systemic issue in the input handling logic rather than a single point of failure. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload is not stored on the server but rather injected through the HTTP request itself, making it particularly dangerous for targeted attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities within the context of the victim user's session. An attacker could potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, modify page content, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users with the privileges of the victim. Given that this affects the vulnerability scan scheduler component, successful exploitation could allow attackers to manipulate security scanning configurations, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive system information or the ability to bypass security controls. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where security administrators regularly use the platform, as these users are likely to be targeted for privilege escalation attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-8583 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to version 5.3.2 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the affected web interface to trusted users only. Input validation should be strengthened to ensure all GET parameters are properly sanitized before processing, and output encoding should be implemented to prevent script injection in web responses. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachments, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through crafted URLs. Regular security assessments and web application firewalls should be deployed to monitor for similar injection vulnerabilities, and security awareness training should emphasize the dangers of clicking on untrusted links that may contain malicious payloads.