CVE-2017-15100 in Foreman
Summary
by MITRE
An attacker submitting facts to the Foreman server containing HTML can cause a stored XSS on certain pages: (1) Facts page, when clicking on the "chart" button and hovering over the chart; (2) Trends page, when checking the graph for a trend based on a such fact; (3) Statistics page, for facts that are aggregated on this page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15100 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within the Foreman server management platform. This security weakness allows malicious actors to inject malicious HTML content through the facts submission mechanism, which then gets stored on the server and subsequently executed in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically affects three distinct user interface components within the Foreman application, creating multiple attack vectors for potential exploitation. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization of user-supplied data within the facts management system, which processes and displays information from various system monitoring sources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when Foreman accepts fact data from remote systems and stores it within its database without proper sanitization of HTML content. When users navigate to the affected pages - specifically the Facts page with its chart functionality, the Trends page that generates graphical representations based on fact data, and the Statistics page that aggregates fact information - the stored HTML content gets rendered without adequate security measures. The XSS attack manifests when users interact with these pages, particularly when clicking chart buttons or viewing trend graphs, as the malicious HTML content becomes part of the rendered page. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious code persists and executes every time affected pages are accessed, making it particularly dangerous for environments where multiple administrators or users interact with the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-15100 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it creates opportunities for attackers to escalate privileges, steal session cookies, or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability affects system administrators who rely on Foreman for infrastructure management, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information or compromise the entire management platform. The stored nature of the XSS payload means that even users who are not actively interacting with the vulnerable pages can be affected when the system displays the malicious content. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where administrators may unknowingly view compromised data while performing routine system monitoring tasks. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it leverages legitimate system functionality rather than requiring direct exploitation of other vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15100 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output sanitization mechanisms throughout the Foreman application. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied data, particularly data submitted through facts management, undergoes strict sanitization before being stored or displayed. The implementation of content security policies and proper HTML escaping mechanisms would prevent malicious scripts from executing in the context of legitimate users. Additionally, regular security audits should be conducted to identify other potential injection points within the system. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a classic example of how insufficient sanitization of user input can lead to persistent security issues. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving code injection and credential access, potentially enabling adversaries to establish persistence within the system and escalate privileges through stolen session information. Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability through official Foreman updates and consider implementing network-level protections such as web application firewalls to mitigate potential exploitation attempts.