CVE-2018-0047 in Junos Space Security Director
Summary
by MITRE
A persistent cross-site scripting vulnerability in the UI framework used by Junos Space Security Director may allow authenticated users to inject persistent and malicious scripts. This may allow stealing of information or performing actions as a different user when other users access the Security Director web interface. This issue affects all versions of Juniper Networks Junos Space Security Director prior to 17.2R2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0047 represents a critical persistent cross-site scripting flaw within the user interface framework of Juniper Networks Junos Space Security Director. This security weakness exists in all versions prior to 17.2R2 and specifically targets the web-based administrative interface that security professionals use to manage network security policies and monitor threats. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's user interface components, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be permanently stored and subsequently executed in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting attacks as a result of insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data. The flaw operates by allowing authenticated users to inject malicious JavaScript code through input fields or parameters within the Security Director interface. Once injected, these scripts become persistent within the application's data storage mechanisms and execute whenever other authenticated users access the affected web pages. This creates a particularly dangerous scenario because the malicious code runs with the privileges and permissions of the targeted users, potentially enabling unauthorized access to sensitive network security data and administrative functions.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0047 extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform arbitrary actions on behalf of other users. When compromised users interact with the Security Director web interface, their browsers execute the stored malicious scripts, which can capture session cookies, redirect traffic to malicious sites, or even execute administrative commands within the security director environment. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting JavaScript execution within web browsers. The persistent nature of the flaw means that once exploited, the malicious code continues to affect users until the vulnerability is patched and the malicious content is removed from the application's database.
Organizations utilizing Junos Space Security Director versions prior to 17.2R2 face significant risk from this vulnerability, as it essentially provides a backdoor for attackers to escalate privileges and maintain persistent access to their network security infrastructure. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability requires only authenticated access, meaning that compromised user accounts or insider threats could immediately exploit this weakness. Security teams should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided security patch, conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments of the affected system, and monitoring for suspicious user activity or unauthorized access attempts. The remediation process should also include reviewing and validating all user accounts for potential compromise, as well as implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls and enhanced session management to reduce the risk of exploitation.