CVE-2018-16619 in Nexus Repository Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager before 3.14 allows XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16619 affects Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager versions prior to 3.14, presenting a cross-site scripting vulnerability that poses significant security risks to organizations relying on this repository management system. This flaw enables malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, potentially compromising the security of the entire repository infrastructure. The vulnerability exists within the web interface of the Nexus Repository Manager, making it accessible to both authenticated and unauthenticated users depending on the specific implementation details. The impact extends beyond simple script injection as it can facilitate more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the repository environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Nexus Repository Manager's web components. When users interact with the repository interface, particularly when viewing or manipulating repository data, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages. This creates an environment where malicious scripts can be executed within the context of other users' browsers, leveraging the trust relationship between the browser and the vulnerable application. The vulnerability is classified as a classic XSS flaw under CWE-79, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The attack vector typically involves crafting malicious input that gets stored or reflected in the application's response, subsequently executed when other users access the affected pages. This weakness can be exploited through various methods including reflected XSS in URLs, stored XSS in repository metadata, or DOM-based XSS in JavaScript processing functions.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-16619 extends far beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to compromise the integrity and confidentiality of repository contents. An attacker could potentially steal administrative credentials, modify repository configurations, or inject malicious artifacts into the repository that would be downloaded by unsuspecting developers. The vulnerability undermines the trust model of the repository manager, as users cannot be certain that the content they access is legitimate. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to sensitive artifacts, disruption of development workflows, and potential data breaches. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where Nexus Repository Manager serves as a central hub for managing dependencies and artifacts across multiple development teams. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access through session manipulation or credential theft, potentially leading to broader network compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-16619 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to version 3.14 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being rendered in web interfaces. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the repository manager to untrusted networks. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify additional vulnerabilities in the repository infrastructure. The implementation of content security policies can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting script execution within the application context. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous user behavior or suspicious data submissions that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls specifically configured to detect and block XSS attack patterns targeting repository management systems. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched environments to ensure that security fixes do not introduce regressions in functionality. Regular security training for administrators and developers can help prevent social engineering attacks that might exploit this vulnerability, while maintaining detailed audit logs can assist in forensic analysis if exploitation occurs.