CVE-2018-10061 in Cacti
Summary
by MITRE
Cacti before 1.1.37 has XSS because it makes certain htmlspecialchars calls without the ENT_QUOTES flag (these calls occur when the html_escape function in lib/html.php is not used).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2018-10061 represents a cross-site scripting weakness in the Cacti network monitoring platform affecting versions prior to 1.1.37. This flaw stems from improper HTML escaping implementations within the application's core functionality, specifically when processing user-supplied input data. The vulnerability occurs due to the absence of the ENT_QUOTES flag in htmlspecialchars function calls, which is a critical security oversight in input sanitization routines. When user input is not properly escaped using the correct flags, malicious actors can inject malicious scripts into the application's output, potentially compromising user sessions and system integrity. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects core application components where user data is rendered in web interfaces, making it exploitable through various attack vectors including web forms, URL parameters, and API endpoints.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in proper input validation and output encoding practices that aligns with CWE-79 Cross-site Scripting weakness patterns. The flaw specifically manifests when the html_escape function defined in lib/html.php is not utilized consistently throughout the codebase. This function serves as the primary mechanism for sanitizing user input before rendering it in HTML contexts, and its absence or improper usage creates exploitable entry points. The lack of ENT_QUOTES flag in htmlspecialchars calls means that both single and double quotes are not properly escaped, allowing attackers to break out of HTML attributes and execute malicious JavaScript code. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through standard web-based attack methods, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators and users interact with the monitoring platform regularly.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-10061 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal administrative credentials, and potentially gain unauthorized access to network monitoring data. An attacker could craft malicious payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable Cacti instance, would execute in the context of other users' browsers, leading to full compromise of the monitoring environment. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because Cacti systems often contain sensitive network information and may be accessible to multiple users with varying privilege levels. The attack surface is broad since the vulnerability affects multiple input points within the application where user data is processed and displayed, including graph configurations, data source definitions, and user management interfaces. The impact is further amplified in enterprise environments where Cacti is used for critical infrastructure monitoring, as compromised systems could lead to broader network security breaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-10061 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Cacti installations to version 1.1.37 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper HTML escaping implementation. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding practices across their entire application stack, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being rendered in HTML contexts. Security teams should conduct thorough code reviews to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other applications, particularly focusing on the consistent use of ENT_QUOTES flag in htmlspecialchars calls and proper implementation of the html_escape function. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect and alert on suspicious script injection attempts, and regular security assessments should be performed to identify potential vulnerabilities in web applications. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to mitigate the impact of successful XSS attacks, though this should not be considered a substitute for proper input validation and sanitization.