CVE-2017-16785 in Cacti
Summary
by MITRE
Cacti 1.1.27 has reflected XSS via the PATH_INFO to host.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-16785 affects Cacti version 1.1.27 and represents a reflected cross-site scripting flaw that occurs when the application processes PATH_INFO parameters within the host.php script. This type of vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple sessions and user interactions. The flaw specifically manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied input that is reflected back to the browser without adequate security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the Cacti web application framework. When a user accesses the host.php endpoint with malicious PATH_INFO parameters, the application processes these inputs without proper sanitization, allowing malicious payloads to be executed within the context of the victim's browser session. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links that could potentially leverage such vulnerabilities to establish footholds within network environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, redirect victims to malicious sites, or execute unauthorized commands on behalf of authenticated users. Given that Cacti is widely used for network monitoring and system administration, exploitation of this vulnerability could provide attackers with access to critical infrastructure monitoring data, potentially compromising network security posture and operational integrity. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that attackers must convince victims to click on malicious links containing the payload, making social engineering a critical component of exploitation strategies.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-16785 should focus on immediate patching of the Cacti application to version 1.1.28 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization controls that validate all user-supplied data and encode output before rendering in web contexts to prevent script injection. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth layers to detect and block malicious traffic patterns associated with XSS exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar input validation gaps across the entire application stack, particularly focusing on parameter handling within PHP applications that process URL components or PATH_INFO parameters. The remediation process should also include user education to recognize potentially malicious links and implement proper access controls to limit the impact of successful exploitation attempts within the monitoring environment.