CVE-2016-8634 in Foreman
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability was found in foreman 1.14.0. When creating an organization or location in Foreman, if the name contains HTML then the second step of the wizard (/organizations/id/step2) will render the HTML. This occurs in the alertbox on the page. The result is a stored XSS attack if an organization/location with HTML in the name is created, then a user is linked directly to this URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8634 resides within the Foreman configuration management platform version 1.14.0, specifically affecting the organization and location creation workflows. This flaw represents a classic stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that exploits improper input sanitization mechanisms within the web application's user interface. The vulnerability manifests when administrators or users create organizational entities with HTML content embedded within the name field, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical exploitation occurs through the Foreman wizard interface where the application fails to properly sanitize user input before rendering it within alert boxes on subsequent pages. When a user creates an organization or location with HTML characters in the name field, the system stores this data without adequate sanitization. During the second step of the wizard process, specifically at the URL path /organizations/id/step2, the application directly renders the unsanitized HTML content within alert boxes, creating a stored XSS vector. This vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which classifies improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it allows attackers to manipulate the web interface in ways that can compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges. When a victim user navigates to the affected URL containing the malicious HTML payload, the stored XSS attack executes in their browser context, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no privileged access to exploit, making it accessible to any user with the ability to create organizations or locations within the Foreman environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate implementation of input validation and sanitization mechanisms that strip or encode HTML characters during the organization and location creation processes. Organizations should deploy proper output encoding techniques to prevent HTML rendering in alert boxes and other user interface elements. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and regular security audits of user input handling processes can significantly reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security, emphasizing that even seemingly benign administrative functions can present significant security risks when input sanitization is inadequate.