CVE-2018-17949 in iManager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross site scripting vulnerability in iManager prior to 3.1 SP2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2020
The CVE-2018-17949 vulnerability represents a cross site scripting flaw discovered in Novell iManager software prior to version 3.1 SP2, highlighting a critical security weakness that could enable malicious actors to execute unauthorized scripts within victim sessions. This vulnerability specifically affects the iManager web interface component that manages Novell Identity Manager solutions, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on this platform for identity and access management operations. The flaw resides in how the application processes user input within web requests, creating an avenue for attackers to inject malicious javascript code that executes in the context of authenticated user sessions.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the iManager web application framework. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that are submitted through various input fields or parameters within the web interface, particularly targeting areas where user-supplied data is reflected back to the browser without proper sanitization. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to adequately escape special characters and html tags in user-provided content before rendering it in web pages, allowing attackers to inject script tags that execute in the victim's browser context. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive authentication tokens, and potentially escalate privileges within the iManager environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to identity management functions, modify user accounts, or even escalate their privileges to administrative levels within the iManager system. The threat is particularly concerning because iManager typically serves as a central management interface for identity provisioning and access control, making it a prime target for attackers seeking persistent access to enterprise identity infrastructure. Organizations using vulnerable versions of iManager face risks of credential theft, unauthorized system modifications, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-17949 should prioritize immediate patching of iManager installations to version 3.1 SP2 or later, as this represents the official vendor fix addressing the XSS vulnerability. Security teams should also implement additional defensive measures including web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts, enhanced input validation routines, and regular security assessments of the iManager environment. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability scanning to identify all systems running affected iManager versions and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include user education about phishing risks and proper input handling practices, while security configurations should enforce strict output encoding for all dynamic content. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and privilege separation within iManager can limit the damage if exploitation occurs, as outlined in the defense-in-depth principles of cybersecurity frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53.