CVE-2017-8044 in Single Sign-On for PCF
Summary
by MITRE
In Pivotal Single Sign-On for PCF (1.3.x versions prior to 1.3.4 and 1.4.x versions prior to 1.4.3), certain pages allow code to be injected into the DOM environment through query parameters, leading to XSS attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8044 affects Pivotal Single Sign-On for PCF versions prior to 1.3.4 and 1.4.3, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that exploits improper input validation mechanisms. This vulnerability resides in the authentication and session management components of the platform, specifically targeting the handling of query parameters in certain web pages that serve as entry points for user interactions. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary code into the document object model environment through manipulated URL parameters, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input within the web application's query parameter processing logic. When the application fails to properly escape or validate incoming parameters before rendering them in the DOM, attackers can inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. This weakness aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities resulting from inadequate input validation and output encoding. The vulnerability manifests when users navigate to affected pages with maliciously crafted query strings that contain script payloads, enabling attackers to execute unauthorized commands, steal session cookies, or manipulate the application interface.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-8044 extends beyond simple script injection, as it creates a persistent threat that can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the targeted environment. Attackers can use this vulnerability to hijack user sessions, redirect users to malicious sites, or extract sensitive information from authenticated sessions. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where Pivotal Single Sign-On for PCF serves as a central authentication service, as compromised sessions could potentially lead to broader system compromise. According to ATT&CK framework tactic T1059, this vulnerability enables code injection techniques that can be used to establish persistence and escalate privileges within the affected system. The impact is exacerbated in cloud environments where the platform serves multiple tenants, as a single compromised endpoint could potentially affect multiple user accounts and applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8044 require immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding measures across all affected components. Organizations should implement comprehensive parameter sanitization that filters or encodes all user-supplied input before processing, particularly focusing on query parameters that are rendered in the DOM. The most effective remediation involves upgrading to patched versions of Pivotal Single Sign-On for PCF, specifically versions 1.3.4 and 1.4.3 or later, which contain proper input validation mechanisms. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities and deploying content security policies can provide additional layers of protection. Security teams should also conduct thorough penetration testing to identify any other potentially vulnerable endpoints and establish monitoring procedures to detect anomalous query parameter usage patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.