CVE-2018-1347 in NetIQ iManager
Summary
by MITRE
The administrative web interface in NetIQ iManager, versions prior to 3.1, are vulnerable to reflected cross site scripting.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1347 affects NetIQ iManager administrative web interfaces running versions prior to 3.1, representing a critical security flaw that exposes organizations to potential malicious exploitation. This issue manifests as a reflected cross site scripting vulnerability, which occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into web responses. The vulnerability specifically impacts the administrative web interface components of NetIQ iManager, a platform commonly used for identity and access management tasks within enterprise environments. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, potentially compromising the security posture of the entire system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and output encoding within the web application's administrative interface. When user-supplied parameters are reflected back to the browser without adequate sanitization, attackers can craft malicious payloads that execute within the context of other users' sessions. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross site scripting flaws in web applications. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious script is reflected off the web server rather than being stored, making it particularly dangerous as it can be delivered through various attack vectors including malicious links sent via email or social engineering campaigns. The vulnerability exists because the application does not adequately encode or escape user input before rendering it in web responses, allowing attackers to inject HTML and JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised environment. Successful exploitation could allow threat actors to steal session cookies, hijack user sessions, redirect users to malicious websites, or even execute arbitrary commands on the affected system. The administrative nature of the vulnerable interface makes this particularly dangerous, as attackers could potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive identity management functions and user accounts. Organizations using NetIQ iManager in their infrastructure face significant risk, especially in environments where administrative privileges are frequently used or where the system manages critical identity data. The vulnerability could be leveraged to escalate privileges, access sensitive information, or disrupt normal operations through session hijacking or data manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-1347 should focus on immediate remediation through the installation of the vendor-provided security patches or updates to version 3.1 or later. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent the reflection of malicious content back to users. The implementation of content security policies and proper header configurations can provide additional defense in depth measures. Security teams should conduct comprehensive assessments of their NetIQ iManager deployments to identify any other potentially vulnerable components or interfaces. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers execution through scripting, and T1531 which addresses tampering with identity and access management systems. Regular security testing and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar issues in other web applications within the organization's infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patches to ensure they do not introduce compatibility issues with existing configurations or business processes.