CVE-2017-3964 in Network Security Management
Summary
by MITRE
Reflective Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the web interface in McAfee Network Security Management (NSM) before 8.2.7.42.2 allows attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a URL parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/26/2023
The CVE-2017-3964 vulnerability represents a critical reflective cross-site scripting flaw discovered in McAfee Network Security Management version 8.2.7.42.2 and earlier releases. This vulnerability specifically affects the web interface component of the security management platform, which serves as the primary administrative portal for configuring and managing network security policies. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of authenticated users' browsers, potentially compromising the entire security management infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's parameter handling logic, particularly when processing URL parameters that are subsequently reflected back to users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code within a parameter field that is not properly sanitized before being rendered in the web interface. When an authenticated user clicks on such a crafted link, the malicious script executes in their browser session, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, modify interface elements, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of the authenticated user. This reflective nature means the malicious code is not stored on the server but rather reflected back to the user's browser through the vulnerable parameter handling. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and can be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages, particularly when attackers leverage the vulnerability to establish persistent access through malicious scripts.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-3964 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can lead to complete compromise of the network security management interface. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains the ability to manipulate security policies, view sensitive configuration data, and potentially escalate privileges within the NSM environment. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on McAfee NSM for network security management, as it undermines the integrity of the administrative interface that should remain protected from unauthorized access. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal user interaction beyond clicking a malicious link, making it highly effective for social engineering campaigns. Organizations using older versions of McAfee NSM are especially vulnerable, as the patch for this vulnerability was released in version 8.2.7.42.2, requiring immediate upgrade to prevent exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-3964 should focus on immediate remediation through patch management, ensuring all instances of McAfee NSM are updated to version 8.2.7.42.2 or later. Network administrators should implement additional security controls including web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script patterns, and establish strict input validation policies that sanitize all user-supplied data before processing. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing proper security training for administrators to recognize phishing attempts that may leverage such XSS vulnerabilities. Organizations should consider implementing content security policies and regular monitoring of web application logs to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, the incident underscores the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security patches and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to prevent similar issues from arising in other components of the security infrastructure.