CVE-2017-9276 in Access Manager iManager
Summary
by MITRE
Novell Access Manager iManager before 4.3.3 did not validate parameters so that cross site scripting content could be reflected back into the result page using the "a" parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/16/2023
Novell Access Manager iManager version 4.3.2 and earlier contained a critical cross site scripting vulnerability that allowed attackers to inject malicious content into web responses through improper parameter validation. This vulnerability specifically affected the "a" parameter which was used to handle application requests without adequate sanitization of user input. The flaw enabled attackers to craft malicious URLs that would execute arbitrary javascript code within the context of a victim's browser session when the vulnerable parameter was processed and reflected back in the application's response. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross Site Scripting, which represents one of the most common and dangerous web application security flaws. The vulnerability could be exploited through various attack vectors including phishing emails, compromised websites, or social engineering campaigns where users would be tricked into clicking malicious links. When users clicked on these crafted URLs, the reflected javascript code would execute in their browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The impact was particularly severe given that iManager was designed as an administrative interface for managing access control and user authentication within enterprise environments. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, gain unauthorized access to sensitive systems, or perform actions as authenticated users. The vulnerability demonstrated a fundamental flaw in input validation and output encoding practices within the application's codebase, highlighting the importance of implementing proper security controls for all user-supplied data. Organizations using affected versions of Novell Access Manager were at significant risk of exploitation, particularly in environments where administrative access was required for system management. The vulnerability's exploitation required minimal technical expertise and could be automated using common web attack tools, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 for Phishing techniques, as attackers could use the XSS flaw to deliver malicious payloads through email campaigns. The remediation involved upgrading to Novell Access Manager version 4.3.3 or later, which included proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent the reflection of malicious content. Organizations should have implemented additional security measures such as web application firewalls, content security policies, and regular security assessments to detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also underscored the need for comprehensive security training for developers on secure coding practices and the importance of regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing to identify potential security flaws before they could be exploited by malicious actors.