CVE-2017-14373 in RSA Authentication Manager
Summary
by MITRE
EMC RSA Authentication Manager 8.2 SP1 P4 and earlier contains a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability that could potentially be exploited by malicious users to compromise the affected system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2019
The CVE-2017-14373 vulnerability represents a critical reflected cross-site scripting flaw within EMC RSA Authentication Manager version 8.2 SP1 P4 and earlier deployments. This vulnerability resides in the web-based administrative interface of the authentication platform, which serves as a cornerstone for enterprise identity and access management solutions. The affected system operates as a centralized authentication server that manages user credentials, multi-factor authentication processes, and secure access controls for organizations relying on RSA's authentication infrastructure. The vulnerability specifically manifests in the way the application processes user input parameters within HTTP response headers and web page content, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary script code within the context of authenticated user sessions.
The technical exploitation of this reflected XSS vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing crafted script payloads that are then reflected back to users who click on the link. The flaw exists in the application's parameter validation mechanisms where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web responses. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser context, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the administrative interface where privileged users access sensitive authentication management functions, providing attackers with elevated privileges within the authentication ecosystem. The attack vector typically involves sending phishing emails or manipulating web application parameters to deliver malicious payloads that exploit the lack of proper input validation and output encoding controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it compromises the fundamental security assurances provided by RSA Authentication Manager. Organizations utilizing this platform face potential unauthorized access to authentication records, user credential exposure, and possible lateral movement within network environments where the authentication system serves as a gateway. The vulnerability undermines the trust model that RSA Authentication Manager establishes, potentially allowing attackers to impersonate legitimate users and gain access to protected resources. According to CWE-79, this vulnerability maps directly to the common weakness of inadequate input validation and output encoding, while ATT&CK framework references this as a technique for initial access through web application attacks. The compromise of authentication systems creates cascading security risks as attackers can leverage stolen authentication tokens to access multiple systems within the enterprise infrastructure, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations with extensive RSA Authentication Manager deployments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14373 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected RSA Authentication Manager versions to the latest available security updates from EMC. Organizations must implement robust input validation mechanisms and output encoding controls within their web applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit exposure of administrative interfaces to trusted networks only. Regular security assessments including web application vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in other systems. Security awareness training for administrators should emphasize the dangers of clicking on suspicious links and the importance of maintaining updated security patches. The vulnerability also highlights the need for comprehensive security monitoring of authentication system logs to detect anomalous access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should establish incident response procedures specifically addressing authentication system compromises and ensure regular backup and recovery processes are in place to address potential exploitation scenarios.