CVE-2017-15934 in Pandora FMS
Summary
by MITRE
Artica Pandora FMS version 7.0 is vulnerable to stored Cross-Site Scripting in the map name parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15934 affects Artica Pandora FMS version 7.0, a widely used open-source network monitoring and management platform. This particular flaw resides within the map name parameter handling functionality, representing a critical security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the system. The vulnerability specifically manifests as a stored cross-site scripting issue, meaning that malicious payloads persist in the application's database and can be executed whenever affected pages are accessed by other users. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in monitoring platforms where multiple administrators and users may view map data, as it can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive network information and system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the Pandora FMS application's map management module. When administrators or users create or modify map names, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before storing it in the database. This allows attackers to embed malicious javascript code within the map name parameter, which gets executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view the affected maps. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that once the malicious payload is injected, it remains persistent and can affect any user who accesses the vulnerable map, regardless of whether they are authenticated or not. This characteristic places the vulnerability squarely within the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which specifically addresses the improper handling of untrusted data in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised environment. An attacker could potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify map data, or even escalate privileges within the Pandora FMS environment. Given that Pandora FMS is commonly deployed in enterprise networks for critical infrastructure monitoring, the compromise of such a system could lead to significant operational disruptions and potential data breaches. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require elevated privileges, making it particularly attractive to attackers who may already have limited access to the system. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 which covers the use of malicious scripts to gain access to systems and data, and represents a direct threat to the integrity and confidentiality of network monitoring data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate input validation and output encoding improvements within the Pandora FMS application. Organizations should implement proper parameter sanitization to prevent script injection attempts and ensure that all user-supplied data is properly encoded before being stored or rendered in web interfaces. The recommended approach includes implementing strict input validation that rejects potentially malicious characters and patterns, combined with output encoding that ensures any stored data is properly escaped when displayed to users. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and monitoring for unusual map creation or modification activities can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to a patched version of Pandora FMS that addresses this specific vulnerability, as the original version 7.0 contains multiple security weaknesses that could compound the risk. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring solutions to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts to their monitoring infrastructure, as this vulnerability could serve as a foothold for more extensive attacks within the network.