CVE-2018-11650 in Graylog
Summary
by MITRE
Graylog before v2.4.4 has an XSS security issue with unescaped text in notifications, related to toastr and util/UserNotification.js.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11650 represents a cross-site scripting flaw in Graylog versions prior to 2.4.4, specifically affecting the notification system components. This issue stems from improper sanitization of user-supplied input within the toastr notification framework and the util/UserNotification.js file, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the application's user interface. The vulnerability manifests when users receive notifications that contain unescaped text, allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the application's failure to properly escape or sanitize input data before rendering it in notification messages. The toastr library, which is responsible for displaying toast notifications, processes user-provided content without adequate sanitization measures, while the util/UserNotification.js component handles user notifications that may contain untrusted data. When an attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or other JavaScript payloads, these elements are directly rendered into the notification system without proper HTML escaping or content validation, enabling the execution of arbitrary code in the victim's browser context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation. An attacker who can inject malicious JavaScript into notification messages can potentially steal user sessions, redirect victims to malicious websites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. This vulnerability particularly affects administrators or users who regularly receive system notifications, as these individuals are more likely to interact with the compromised notification system. The attack vector typically requires the attacker to have some level of access to the system to inject malicious content, though in some cases the vulnerability may be exploitable through other means such as compromised user accounts.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is sent to a web browser without proper validation or sanitization. Additionally, this flaw maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for social engineering, as the vulnerability can be exploited through user interaction with malicious notifications. The impact is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Graylog serves as a central logging and monitoring platform, as compromised notification systems can lead to widespread security implications across the organization.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate upgrading to Graylog version 2.4.4 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly sanitize notification content. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as input validation at multiple layers, content security policies, and regular security assessments of notification systems. Network segmentation and monitoring of notification traffic can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of user-facing components, particularly those handling external or user-provided data. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be prioritized to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.