CVE-2018-10934 in Management Console
Summary
by MITRE
A cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability was found in the JBoss Management Console versions before 7.1.6.CR1, 7.1.6.GA. Users with roles that can create objects in the application can exploit this to attack other privileged users.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2023
The CVE-2018-10934 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the JBoss Management Console that significantly impacts enterprise application security. This vulnerability affects JBoss Application Server versions prior to 7.1.6.CR1 and 7.1.6.GA, creating a persistent threat vector that allows malicious actors to exploit privileged user sessions through carefully crafted input manipulation. The flaw specifically targets the management console interface where administrative users can create and configure application objects, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where such consoles handle sensitive operational data and administrative functions.
The technical exploitation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when authenticated users with sufficient privileges create objects within the JBoss Management Console that contain malicious script payloads. These payloads are then executed in the context of other privileged users who view the affected objects, enabling attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized administrative actions, or redirect victims to malicious sites. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the console's object creation and display mechanisms, allowing script code to bypass security filters and execute in the browser of legitimate users. This particular weakness aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where insufficient validation of input allows malicious scripts to be executed in the context of other users.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-10934 extends far beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with a pathway to escalate privileges and compromise entire enterprise systems. When exploited, this vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate the JBoss Management Console itself, potentially gaining access to sensitive configuration data, user credentials, and system resources that would normally be restricted to authorized administrators. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it leverages legitimate user privileges, making detection more difficult and allowing attackers to operate under the guise of authorized personnel. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can execute malicious scripts through the console interface, and T1566 for Phishing, as the attack often involves tricking users into creating malicious objects that appear legitimate.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to JBoss Application Server versions 7.1.6.CR1 or later, which contain the necessary security patches and input validation improvements. Additionally, administrators should review and restrict user permissions within the management console, implementing the principle of least privilege to minimize the potential impact of compromised accounts. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring for suspicious script execution patterns and blocking malicious payloads before they can be processed by the console. Regular security assessments and input validation testing should be conducted to ensure that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in other components of the application stack, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper output encoding and input sanitization in web application security.