CVE-2017-17745 in TL-SG108E
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in system_name_set.cgi in TP-Link TL-SG108E 1.0.0 allows authenticated remote attackers to submit arbitrary java script via the 'sysName' parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/17/2019
The CVE-2017-17745 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the TP-Link TL-SG108E network switch firmware version 1.0.0. This vulnerability specifically affects the system_name_set.cgi web interface component that handles system name configuration. The flaw resides in the improper validation and sanitization of user input submitted through the 'sysName' parameter, which is processed by the device's web management interface. Attackers with valid credentials can exploit this weakness to inject malicious JavaScript code into the device's configuration interface, potentially compromising the network management system.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a stored XSS attack vector since the malicious script is stored on the device and executed when other users access the affected web interface. The authenticated nature of this vulnerability means that an attacker must first obtain legitimate credentials to the device, but once achieved, the impact can be significant as the malicious script can execute within the context of the victim's browser session. The attack occurs when an authenticated user views the device configuration page, making this particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple administrators may access the same management interface.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-17745 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the network management context. An attacker could craft malicious scripts that steal administrator credentials, redirect users to phishing sites, or manipulate network configurations to gain unauthorized access to other network resources. The vulnerability affects the device's web administration interface, potentially allowing attackers to modify system settings, access sensitive configuration data, or use the compromised device as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting and T1566.001 for credential harvesting through social engineering.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate firmware updates from TP-Link to address the XSS flaw, along with implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms on the web interface. Network administrators should enforce strong authentication practices including multi-factor authentication, regularly rotate administrative credentials, and implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of compromised administrative accounts. Additionally, regular security assessments of network infrastructure devices should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities, and web application firewalls should be deployed to detect and block malicious script injection attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior in network management interfaces, particularly around configuration changes that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and proper input sanitization in embedded network devices that expose web interfaces to potentially untrusted users.