CVE-2017-15515 in SnapCenter Server
Summary
by MITRE
NetApp SnapCenter Server prior to 4.0 is susceptible to cross site scripting vulnerability that could allow a privileged user to inject arbitrary scripts into the custom secondary policy label field.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15515 affects NetApp SnapCenter Server versions prior to 4.0, representing a critical cross site scripting flaw that undermines the security posture of enterprise data protection systems. This vulnerability specifically targets the custom secondary policy label field within the SnapCenter Server interface, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute unauthorized code within the context of authenticated user sessions. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it within web interfaces.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the server-side processing of policy label inputs where user-provided data is directly incorporated into web responses without proper sanitization. Attackers with privileged access can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious script code into the secondary policy label field during configuration operations. When other users view the affected policy labels, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially enabling session hijacking, data exfiltration, or redirection to malicious sites. This represents a classic reflected cross site scripting vulnerability where the malicious payload is processed and returned within the application's response, leveraging the trust relationship between the user and the web application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the enterprise environment. Privileged users with access to SnapCenter Server can manipulate the policy label fields to inject malicious JavaScript that could capture user credentials, steal session cookies, or redirect users to phishing sites. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only a privileged account, making it particularly dangerous as it can be used by insiders or compromised accounts to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive backup and recovery operations. This weakness directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the integrity of the backup management system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15515 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all user-facing fields within the SnapCenter Server interface. Organizations should immediately upgrade to NetApp SnapCenter Server version 4.0 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through enhanced sanitization of user inputs. Security controls should include implementing Content Security Policy headers, employing proper HTML encoding for all dynamic content, and conducting regular input validation checks to prevent malicious payloads from being processed. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross site scripting flaws, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting and T1566.001 for credential access through social engineering. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and monitor for unusual policy configuration activities that could indicate exploitation attempts, while ensuring that privileged accounts maintain strong authentication mechanisms including multi-factor authentication to limit the attack surface.