CVE-2018-0046 in Junos Space
Summary
by MITRE
A reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability in OpenNMS included with Juniper Networks Junos Space may allow the stealing of sensitive information or session credentials from Junos Space administrators or perform administrative actions. This issue affects Juniper Networks Junos Space versions prior to 18.2R1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2018-0046 represents a critical reflected cross-site scripting flaw within OpenNMS, which is integrated into Juniper Networks Junos Space platform. This security weakness specifically impacts versions prior to 18.2R1 and stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application interface. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by administrators, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited through crafted web requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of user-supplied input parameters within the OpenNMS component of Junos Space. When administrators interact with the web interface, specific parameters are processed without adequate sanitization, enabling attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that gets executed in the context of the administrator's browser session. This reflected XSS condition occurs when the application incorporates user input directly into web responses without proper encoding or validation, making it susceptible to script injection attacks. The vulnerability manifests as a CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security design.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform administrative actions within the Junos Space environment. Successful exploitation could result in complete compromise of the administrator's session, enabling unauthorized access to sensitive network management functions and potentially leading to full network control. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, modify network configurations, access confidential data, or even escalate privileges within the Junos Space platform. The threat is particularly severe because it targets privileged administrators who possess elevated access rights to critical network infrastructure management systems.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the installation of Junos Space version 18.2R1 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address the reflected XSS weakness. Additionally, network administrators should implement web application firewalls and input validation mechanisms to provide additional layers of protection. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious parameter injection attempts, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the network management infrastructure. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566: Phishing and T1059: Command and Scripting Interpreter, highlighting the attack vectors and techniques that exploit such weaknesses to establish persistent access to network management systems.