CVE-2018-11059 in RSA Archer
Summary
by MITRE
RSA Archer, versions prior to 6.4.0.1, contain a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability. A remote authenticated malicious Archer user could potentially exploit this vulnerability to store malicious HTML or JavaScript code in a trusted application data store. When application users access the corrupted data store through their browsers, the malicious code gets executed by the web browser in the context of the vulnerable web application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11059 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within RSA Archer software versions prior to 6.4.0.1. This vulnerability resides in the application's data handling mechanisms where user input is not properly sanitized before being stored in the application's database. The flaw allows authenticated attackers who have compromised credentials to inject malicious code into the system's data store, which then persists and executes when other users access the affected data through their web browsers. The vulnerability specifically affects the web application's ability to validate and sanitize user-supplied content, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by adversaries who gain legitimate access to the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding practices within the RSA Archer application framework. When authenticated users submit content that contains HTML or JavaScript elements, the application fails to adequately sanitize these inputs before storing them in the database. This stored data is then retrieved and displayed to other users without proper context-based encoding or sanitization, creating an ideal environment for cross-site scripting attacks. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the trust relationship between the web application and its users, where legitimate user interactions become vectors for malicious code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code injection, as it enables attackers to potentially escalate their privileges and access sensitive data within the Archer environment. Once exploited, the malicious JavaScript code can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, modifying application data, or even executing arbitrary commands on the affected system. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that the attack vector remains active until the malicious content is removed from the database, providing attackers with extended periods of access and potential for data exfiltration. This vulnerability particularly impacts organizations using RSA Archer for business process management and risk assessment, where the compromised system could provide access to sensitive operational data and business intelligence.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the vendor-provided security patches released for version 6.4.0.1 and subsequent releases. The remediation process involves comprehensive input validation, output encoding, and proper content sanitization mechanisms throughout the application's data handling pipeline. Security measures should include implementing strict access controls, monitoring user activities for suspicious input patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of the application's data storage and retrieval processes. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a significant concern under the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, as the malicious code execution can lead to further system compromise and privilege escalation opportunities.