CVE-2018-10060 in Cacti
Summary
by MITRE
Cacti before 1.1.37 has XSS because it does not properly reject unintended characters, related to use of the sanitize_uri function in lib/functions.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10060 affects Cacti versions prior to 1.1.37 and represents a cross-site scripting vulnerability that stems from inadequate input validation within the sanitize_uri function located in lib/functions.php. This flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or system compromise. The vulnerability specifically arises from the application's failure to properly reject unintended characters in URI parameters, creating an entry point for malicious actors to exploit the system's trust in user-supplied data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic XSS flaw where the sanitize_uri function does not adequately filter or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. When users navigate to pages containing maliciously crafted URI parameters, the application processes these inputs without sufficient sanitization, allowing script execution in the context of the victim's browser. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects core application functionality where URI parameters are commonly used for navigation and data passing between components.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-10060 extends beyond simple script injection as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the Cacti environment. Since Cacti is commonly used for network monitoring and system administration, an attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive monitoring data, potentially compromising the entire network infrastructure that the application is designed to protect. The attack surface is broad as the vulnerability affects multiple user interactions throughout the application where URI parameters are processed, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators and users frequently interact with the monitoring interface.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate upgrade to Cacti version 1.1.37 or later where the sanitize_uri function has been properly enhanced to reject unintended characters and implement comprehensive input validation. Organizations should also deploy web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious URI patterns, implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, and conduct regular security assessments of the application's input handling mechanisms. Additionally, security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through log analysis and implement proper access controls to limit the impact of any successful attacks. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input validation in web applications and aligns with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines for preventing injection flaws that could lead to more severe compromises.