CVE-2017-14801 in NetIQ Access Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Reflected XSS in the NetIQ Access Manager before 4.3.3 allowed attackers to reflect back xss into the called page using the url parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14801 represents a critical reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the NetIQ Access Manager application prior to version 4.3.3. This vulnerability resides in the web application's handling of URL parameters, specifically where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized or validated before being reflected back to the victim's browser. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code through crafted URL parameters, which then executes in the context of the victim's browser session when the malicious link is clicked or the page is loaded. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is directly output to web pages without proper validation or encoding.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms for URL parameters. When users navigate to the vulnerable NetIQ Access Manager interface with specially crafted URL parameters containing malicious JavaScript payloads, the application processes these parameters without adequate sanitization. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious script is immediately reflected back to the user's browser without being stored on the server, making it particularly dangerous for phishing attacks and session hijacking. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-14801 extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the target environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially escalate privileges, access sensitive authentication mechanisms, or harvest user credentials and session tokens. The vulnerability affects the authentication and access control functionality of NetIQ Access Manager, which is designed to protect enterprise resources, making the potential impact severe for organizations relying on this security infrastructure. This weakness creates a vector for privilege escalation attacks and can be combined with other vulnerabilities to achieve more comprehensive system compromise. The vulnerability maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 sub-technique for scripting and T1566 for credential access through phishing.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to NetIQ Access Manager version 4.3.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the reflected XSS vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding measures at the application level can provide defense-in-depth protection. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can help prevent execution of unauthorized scripts even if the vulnerability is exploited. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be deployed to monitor and block suspicious URL parameter patterns. Regular security assessments and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications within the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and the potential for seemingly minor flaws to create significant security risks in authentication and access control systems.