CVE-2017-12175 in Satellite
Summary
by MITRE
Red Hat Satellite before 6.5 is vulnerable to a XSS in discovery rule when you are entering filter and you use autocomplete functionality.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12175 affects Red Hat Satellite versions prior to 6.5, specifically targeting the discovery rule functionality within the system. This issue manifests as a cross-site scripting vulnerability that occurs during the filter input process when users utilize the autocomplete feature. The flaw represents a significant security weakness in the system's web interface, potentially allowing malicious actors to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the legitimate autocomplete functionality that administrators and users rely on for efficient system management, making it difficult to distinguish between benign and malicious inputs.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the discovery rule filter component of Red Hat Satellite. When users enter filter criteria and the system presents autocomplete suggestions, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into the web response. This allows attackers to inject malicious script code through the filter fields, which then executes when other users interact with the autocomplete functionality. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a cross-site scripting flaw, specifically demonstrating how insufficient input sanitization can lead to unauthorized code execution. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal user interaction beyond normal system usage, making it difficult to detect and prevent through standard security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to access sensitive system information, perform unauthorized actions, or redirect users to malicious websites. In a Red Hat Satellite environment, where administrators manage large-scale infrastructure and security policies, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain elevated privileges or access confidential system data. The discovery rule functionality is commonly used for automating system identification and management, making this attack surface particularly valuable to threat actors. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566.001 for spearphishing via social engineering, as it can be exploited through crafted filter inputs that appear legitimate during normal operations.
Organizations using Red Hat Satellite versions prior to 6.5 should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary solution involves applying the official security patch released by Red Hat for Satellite 6.5, which includes proper input validation and output encoding for the autocomplete functionality. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious input patterns, though this represents a secondary defense mechanism. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of all user inputs within the discovery rule components and establish monitoring procedures to detect anomalous autocomplete usage patterns. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation in web applications and demonstrates how seemingly benign features like autocomplete can become attack vectors when proper security controls are not implemented. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure they can quickly identify and respond to similar vulnerabilities in their infrastructure management systems.