CVE-2017-12879 in PRTG Network Monitor
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS-STORED) vulnerability in the DEVICES OR SENSORS functionality in Paessler PRTG Network Monitor before 17.3.33.2654 allows authenticated remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2019
The CVE-2017-12879 vulnerability represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw within Paessler PRTG Network Monitor's device and sensor management features. This security weakness affects versions prior to 17.3.33.2654 and enables authenticated remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML code within the context of the victim's browser. The vulnerability specifically resides in the handling of user-supplied input within the DEVICES OR SENSORS functionality, where improperly sanitized data is stored and subsequently reflected back to users without adequate sanitization or encoding measures.
This stored XSS vulnerability operates through a classic attack vector where an authenticated attacker with sufficient privileges can inject malicious scripts into the application's database through the sensor or device configuration interfaces. When other users view the affected device or sensor information, their browsers execute the injected malicious code, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The flaw demonstrates a failure in input validation and output encoding practices, representing a direct violation of secure coding principles and common security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and persistent malware delivery. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish footholds within network monitoring environments where PRTG is deployed, potentially compromising the integrity of network monitoring data and undermining the security posture of the entire network infrastructure. The authenticated nature of the attack means that attackers must first obtain valid credentials, but once achieved, they can maintain persistent access through the stored script injection mechanism. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a significant concern for organizations relying on PRTG for critical network monitoring operations.
Organizations should immediately implement the vendor-provided patch for PRTG Network Monitor version 17.3.33.2654 to remediate this vulnerability. Additionally, security measures should include implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, conducting regular security assessments of network monitoring tools, and establishing privileged access controls to limit the scope of potential exploitation. Network segmentation and monitoring of administrative activities can provide additional layers of defense. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following ATT&CK framework principles for defensive measures, particularly in preventing initial compromise through credential theft and maintaining persistence within network monitoring environments. Organizations should review their incident response procedures to ensure they can detect and respond to similar vulnerabilities in their network monitoring infrastructure.