CVE-2018-10141 in PAN-OS
Summary
by MITRE
GlobalProtect Portal Login page in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS before 8.1.4 allows an unauthenticated attacker to inject arbitrary JavaScript or HTML.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-10141 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the GlobalProtect Portal Login page of Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS software versions prior to 8.1.4. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data entered during the authentication process. The vulnerability exists in the web interface component responsible for handling login requests, where malicious input can be injected without proper sanitization, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of login parameters or form fields that are not adequately validated before being processed by the web application. An unauthenticated attacker can craft malicious payloads that, when submitted through the login portal, get executed in the browser of any user who subsequently interacts with the compromised page. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category for Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a stored XSS variant where the malicious code persists and can be executed against multiple users. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it enables execution of malicious javascript code within the victim's browser environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks including credential theft, privilege escalation, and lateral movement within compromised networks. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious scripts that capture user credentials, redirect users to phishing sites, or establish persistent backdoors through the compromised authentication portal. The GlobalProtect Portal serves as a critical entry point for remote access to corporate networks, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by attackers without requiring prior authentication or network access. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Palo Alto Networks firewalls for secure remote access, potentially compromising the integrity of their entire remote access infrastructure.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to PAN-OS version 8.1.4 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation and output encoding deficiencies. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls, input validation rules, and monitoring for suspicious login patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding in web applications, particularly those handling authentication flows. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their network infrastructure to identify any other potential entry points that may be susceptible to similar cross-site scripting attacks, ensuring comprehensive protection against this class of vulnerability that remains prevalent in web applications across various platforms and technologies.