CVE-2017-7422 in Enterprise Developer
Summary
by MITRE
Reflected and stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS, CWE-79) vulnerabilities in esfadmingui in Micro Focus Enterprise Developer and Enterprise Server 2.3, 2.3 Update 1 before Hotfix 8, and 2.3 Update 2 before Hotfix 9 allow remote authenticated attackers to bypass protection mechanisms (CWE-693) and other security features, if this component is configured. Note esfadmingui is not enabled by default.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2017-7422 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting the esfadmingui component within Micro Focus Enterprise Developer and Enterprise Server versions 2.3, 2.3 Update 1 before Hotfix 8, and 2.3 Update 2 before Hotfix 9. This vulnerability manifests as both reflected and stored XSS attacks, categorizing it under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. The flaw exists in the administrative user interface component that handles user input validation and output encoding, creating pathways for malicious script execution in the context of authenticated users' browsers. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that it allows attackers to bypass existing protection mechanisms, as indicated by the CWE-693 classification, which specifically addresses protection mechanism failures that enable attackers to circumvent security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output encoding within the esfadmingui component. Attackers can leverage this weakness by injecting malicious scripts into input fields that are then reflected back to users or stored within the application's database. When authenticated users interact with the vulnerable application, their browsers execute the malicious scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it specifically targets the administrative interface, meaning successful exploitation could provide attackers with elevated privileges and access to sensitive administrative functions. The fact that esfadmingui is not enabled by default provides some mitigation but does not eliminate the risk for organizations that have explicitly configured this component for use.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7422 is significant for organizations running affected Micro Focus products, particularly those with administrative interfaces exposed to authenticated users. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can leverage the bypass protection mechanisms to perform actions such as modifying administrative settings, accessing restricted data, or conducting privilege escalation attacks. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by authenticated users, execute malicious scripts without requiring persistent storage of the payload. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where administrators might be tricked into clicking malicious links through social engineering or phishing campaigns. The stored aspect of the vulnerability allows attackers to persistently inject malicious content that will execute whenever affected users access the application, creating a more insidious threat vector.
Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with immediate deployment of the available hotfixes for the affected versions of Micro Focus Enterprise Developer and Enterprise Server. The remediation process should include thorough configuration reviews to ensure that the esfadmingui component is not unnecessarily enabled in production environments where it is not required. Security teams should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of the vulnerable component to only authorized administrative users. Input validation and output encoding controls should be strengthened throughout the application, with particular attention to the administrative interface components. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter indicates that attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to establish persistent access through script-based attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against similar XSS vulnerabilities in other components of their application infrastructure. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any other potential XSS vulnerabilities within the application stack that might provide similar attack vectors.