CVE-2017-9979 in QuantaStor
Summary
by MITRE
On the OSNEXUS QuantaStor v4 virtual appliance before 4.3.1, if the REST call invoked does not exist, an error will be triggered containing the invalid method previously invoked. The response sent to the user isn't sanitized in this case. An attacker can leverage this issue by including arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code as a parameter, aka XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2019
The CVE-2017-9979 vulnerability affects the OSNEXUS QuantaStor v4 virtual appliance version 4.3.1 and earlier, presenting a cross-site scripting vulnerability through improper error handling in the REST API interface. This flaw arises when the system processes REST calls that do not exist, triggering an error response that includes the invalid method name without proper sanitization. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to sanitize user input within error messages, creating an environment where malicious actors can inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code through parameters in the REST API requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the REST API's error handling mechanism failing to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before including it in error responses. When an attacker sends a malformed or non-existent REST method call, the system returns an error message that directly incorporates the method name into the response without sanitization. This creates a classic cross-site scripting vector where malicious JavaScript code can be executed in the context of a victim's browser when they encounter the error message. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it occurs in the error handling path rather than in normal application functionality, making it less likely to be thoroughly tested or monitored.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple XSS execution, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, or redirect users to malicious websites. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of authenticated users, potentially compromising the entire system if users have administrative privileges. The attack vector is relatively straightforward, requiring only the ability to send REST API requests to the affected appliance, which makes the vulnerability exploitable by attackers with minimal privileges. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1211 for exploiting weaknesses in application interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the affected QuantaStor appliance to version 4.3.1 or later, which addresses the improper error handling. Organizations should also implement input validation and output sanitization measures to prevent similar issues in other applications, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly escaped before inclusion in any response. Network segmentation and API monitoring should be implemented to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts to the REST API. Additionally, regular security testing of API endpoints, including error handling paths, should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other systems. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that error messages no longer contain unsanitized user input, and that proper logging mechanisms are in place to detect potential exploitation attempts.