CVE-2016-9490 in Applications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
ManageEngine Applications Manager versions 12 and 13 suffer from a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability. Applications Manager is prone to a Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability in parameter LIMIT, in URL path /DiagAlertAction.do?REQTYPE=AJAX&LIMIT=1233. The URL is also available without authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9490 affects ManageEngine Applications Manager versions 12 and 13, representing a critical reflected cross-site scripting flaw that exposes the system to potential exploitation by unauthorized actors. This vulnerability specifically manifests within the DiagAlertAction.do component where the LIMIT parameter in the URL path /DiagAlertAction.do?REQTYPE=AJAX&LIMIT=1233 fails to properly sanitize user input. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of a victim's browser when the crafted URL is accessed, making it particularly dangerous due to its reflected nature where the malicious payload is returned from the web application itself.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the ManageEngine Applications Manager application. When the LIMIT parameter receives user-supplied data without proper sanitization, the application fails to escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This weakness aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as a result of inadequate input validation and output encoding. The vulnerability is further exacerbated by the fact that the affected URL path does not require authentication, meaning any user can potentially exploit this flaw without prior access credentials, significantly broadening the attack surface.
The operational impact of this reflected XSS vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it can enable attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including but not limited to credential theft, data manipulation, and privilege escalation. An attacker could craft a malicious URL containing script payloads that would execute when a victim accesses the page, potentially stealing session cookies or redirecting users to malicious sites. This vulnerability particularly threatens organizations using ManageEngine Applications Manager as it could allow unauthorized individuals to gain unauthorized access to sensitive monitoring data and potentially compromise the entire monitoring infrastructure. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that attacks can be delivered through various vectors including email phishing campaigns, compromised websites, or social engineering tactics.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding measures to prevent script injection attacks. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters, particularly those used in URL query strings, and implementing proper HTML escaping mechanisms before rendering any dynamic content. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. The mitigation strategy should also include restricting access to the affected URL paths through network-level controls or authentication mechanisms, as the vulnerability's accessibility without authentication presents a significant risk to organizations with less restrictive network policies. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 for initial access through malicious links and T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter execution, highlighting the multi-stage attack potential that organizations must address through comprehensive security controls and network monitoring solutions.