CVE-2017-4929 in NSX Edge
Summary
by MITRE
VMware NSX Edge (6.2.x before 6.2.9 and 6.3.x before 6.3.5) contains a moderate Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) issue which may lead to information disclosure.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-4929 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within VMware NSX Edge platform versions 6.2.x prior to 6.2.9 and 6.3.x prior to 6.3.5. This issue resides in the web-based management interface of the NSX Edge services, which serve as critical components for network virtualization and security services within VMware's software-defined data center solutions. The affected system components include the NSX Edge services that handle user authentication, configuration management, and network security policy enforcement. These services are integral to enterprise network infrastructure and provide essential functions such as firewall protection, load balancing, and VPN services that organizations rely upon for secure network operations.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the NSX Edge web interface components. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious script code through user-controllable input fields that are not properly sanitized before being rendered in web responses. The vulnerability specifically affects parameters used in the management console's user interface, where user-supplied data flows directly into HTML output without adequate sanitization measures. This flaw allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially compromising the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which is a well-documented weakness in web application security that has been consistently observed across numerous security incidents and penetration testing engagements.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it creates potential pathways for information disclosure and session hijacking attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this XSS flaw could potentially access sensitive configuration data, user credentials, or network security policies that are displayed within the NSX Edge management interface. The compromised session could enable unauthorized access to network security controls, potentially allowing attackers to modify firewall rules, access VPN configurations, or manipulate load balancing settings. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on NSX Edge for network security services, as it could undermine the integrity of their virtualized network infrastructure and potentially lead to broader security breaches. The moderate severity classification indicates that while the vulnerability does not provide direct system compromise capabilities, it represents a significant risk to network security operations and information confidentiality.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched versions 6.2.9 and 6.3.5 of VMware NSX Edge to address this vulnerability. The recommended remediation strategy involves applying the vendor-provided security patches through VMware's official update channels and conducting thorough testing to ensure compatibility with existing network configurations. Network administrators should also implement additional defensive measures such as web application firewalls, input validation controls, and regular security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The mitigation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential access through phishing and T1071.001 for application layer protocol usage, as the vulnerability could be exploited through malicious web content delivered to authenticated users. Security teams should also perform regular vulnerability assessments of their NSX Edge deployments and establish monitoring procedures to detect anomalous user behavior or unauthorized configuration changes that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies for critical network infrastructure components.