CVE-2017-5800 in Operations Bridge Analytics
Summary
by MITRE
A Remote Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in HPE Operations Bridge Analytics version v3.0 was found.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5800 represents a critical remote cross-site scripting flaw within HPE Operations Bridge Analytics version v3.0, a comprehensive monitoring and analytics platform designed for enterprise IT infrastructure management. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input within web interfaces, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability specifically affects the analytics dashboard and reporting components where user data is processed and displayed, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where sensitive operational data is routinely accessed and shared across multiple users and systems. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms that are fundamental to preventing XSS attacks in web applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-provided parameters within the application's web interface components. When users interact with the analytics platform through web browsers, the system fails to adequately filter or escape special characters in input fields, allowing attackers to craft malicious payloads that execute within the context of other users' browser sessions. This occurs primarily in areas where dynamic content is generated based on user inputs, such as custom report parameters, search queries, or configuration settings. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including crafted URLs, form submissions, or even through infected dashboard widgets that users interact with regularly. According to CWE-79, this corresponds to a classic cross-site scripting weakness where the application does not properly validate or sanitize user-controllable data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content, making it susceptible to malicious script injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, particularly within enterprise monitoring environments where HPE Operations Bridge Analytics serves as a critical component for infrastructure management and business continuity. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially gain access to sensitive operational data, manipulate monitoring dashboards to hide malicious activities, or redirect users to phishing sites designed to capture additional credentials. The risk is amplified in environments where the analytics platform aggregates data from multiple systems, potentially providing attackers with comprehensive insights into network infrastructure, service dependencies, and operational workflows. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged to execute persistent attacks that remain undetected for extended periods, as the malicious scripts would execute within the legitimate application context, making them harder to distinguish from normal application behavior. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments and T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage, as the vulnerability enables both credential theft and command execution within the target environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-5800 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the affected application components. Organizations should implement comprehensive web application firewall rules that can detect and block suspicious script patterns in incoming requests, while also ensuring that all user inputs are properly sanitized before being processed or displayed in web interfaces. The most effective remediation involves updating to the latest version of HPE Operations Bridge Analytics where the vulnerability has been patched through proper input validation and output encoding implementations. Security teams should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities within the application context, and conduct thorough penetration testing to identify any additional vectors that might be susceptible to similar vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments of web applications and implementation of automated input validation checks can prevent similar issues from emerging in future deployments, aligning with industry best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST SP 800-53 security controls for web application security.