CVE-2017-11685 in Event Log Analyzer
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple Reflective cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in search and display of event data in Zoho ManageEngine Event Log Analyzer 11.4 and 11.5 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML, as demonstrated by the fName parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2017-11685 represents a critical security flaw in Zoho ManageEngine Event Log Analyzer versions 11.4 and 11.5 that exposes the system to reflective cross-site scripting attacks. This issue occurs within the search and display functionality of event data processing, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of affected users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically manifests through the fName parameter, which serves as an entry point for injecting arbitrary web script or HTML content into the application's response handling mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the Event Log Analyzer's web interface components. When the application processes user-supplied parameters such as fName without proper sanitization, it fails to escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This creates a reflective XSS condition where malicious payloads are echoed back to the user's browser without appropriate security measures to prevent execution. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications, making it a direct manifestation of this well-documented weakness in web application security.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations utilizing Zoho ManageEngine Event Log Analyzer for security monitoring and log management. Attackers could leverage this flaw to execute malicious scripts that might steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform unauthorized actions within the application context. The reflective nature of the attack means that successful exploitation requires user interaction with a malicious link, but once triggered, the consequences can be severe for organizations relying on the system for critical security operations. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of security monitoring data, potentially compromising the entire security infrastructure that depends on the Event Log Analyzer for log aggregation and analysis.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can be combined with other techniques to create more sophisticated attacks. Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework, particularly under the T1059.007 technique for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript" and T1566 for "Phishing" as attackers could use the XSS to create convincing phishing campaigns. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and the implementation of Content Security Policy headers. The most effective remediation involves proper parameter sanitization and the adoption of secure coding practices that prevent user input from being directly reflected in application responses without appropriate escaping mechanisms. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the Event Log Analyzer system and ensure comprehensive protection against similar reflective XSS threats.