CVE-2018-1187 in Isilion
Summary
by MITRE
Dell EMC Isilon versions between 8.1.0.0 - 8.1.0.1, 8.0.1.0 - 8.0.1.2, and 8.0.0.0 - 8.0.0.6 is affected by a cross-site scripting vulnerability in the Network Configuration page within the OneFS web administration interface. A malicious administrator may potentially inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code in the user's browser session in the context of the OneFS website.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1187 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Dell EMC Isilon storage systems running specific firmware versions. This security weakness resides in the Network Configuration page of the OneFS web administration interface, which serves as the primary management portal for configuring and monitoring the storage infrastructure. The affected versions span multiple release branches including 8.1.0.0 through 8.1.0.1, 8.0.1.0 through 8.0.1.2, and 8.0.0.0 through 8.0.0.6, indicating a widespread impact across the product lineage. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web interface, allowing malicious actors to inject malicious code that executes within the context of legitimate user sessions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of parameters within the Network Configuration page, where user-supplied input fails to undergo proper sanitization before being rendered back to the browser. This allows an attacker with administrative privileges or the ability to compromise an administrative account to inject HTML or JavaScript code that persists in the web interface. When other administrators or authorized users view the affected page, their browsers execute the malicious code within the security context of the OneFS web application, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or further escalation of privileges. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-1187 extends beyond simple code execution, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of the administrative interface that governs critical storage infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can manipulate network configurations, potentially disrupting storage services or creating backdoors within the storage environment. The risk is particularly elevated because the vulnerability affects the core management interface of the storage system, which typically requires elevated privileges and provides access to sensitive data and system controls. Organizations utilizing Dell EMC Isilon systems face potential data exposure, service disruption, and unauthorized access to their storage infrastructure, especially if administrative accounts are compromised through social engineering or credential theft attacks. The vulnerability also enables persistent threats where attackers can establish long-term access to the storage environment through the injected malicious code, making detection and remediation more challenging.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate firmware updates to versions that address the XSS flaw, as Dell EMC has released patches specifically targeting this issue. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the OneFS web administration interface, restricting access to trusted administrative networks and implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts. Additional protective measures include regular monitoring of the web interface for suspicious activity, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conducting regular security assessments of the storage infrastructure. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and output encoding practices in web applications and underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of administrative interfaces to prevent similar issues from arising in other components of the storage ecosystem.