CVE-2018-1812 in Robotic Process Automation with Automation Anywhere
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Robotic Process Automation with Automation Anywhere Enterprise 10 is vulnerable to persistent cross-site scripting, caused by missing escaping of a database field. An attacker that has access to the Control Room database could exploit this vulnerability to execute script in a victim's web browser within the security context of the hosting Web site, once victim opens a certain page in Control Room. IBM X-Force ID: 149883.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1812 affects IBM Robotic Process Automation with Automation Anywhere Enterprise version 10, representing a critical persistent cross-site scripting flaw that stems from inadequate input sanitization within the Control Room database component. This security weakness manifests when database fields containing user-supplied data are not properly escaped before being rendered in web interfaces, creating an attack vector that allows malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary scripts within victim browsers. The vulnerability specifically resides in the Control Room application's handling of database content, where insufficient sanitization permits script code to persist in database records and subsequently execute when legitimate users access affected pages.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to first gain access to the Control Room database, which represents a significant prerequisite that limits the attack surface but does not eliminate the threat entirely. Once database access is achieved, the attacker can inject malicious script code into database fields that are later displayed in web interfaces without proper escaping. When a victim user navigates to a page within the Control Room that renders this compromised database content, the embedded script executes within the victim's browser context, operating under the security permissions and trust level of the legitimate web application. This persistent nature means that the malicious code remains active until manually removed from the database, potentially affecting multiple users over extended periods.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform various malicious activities within the victim's browser environment. Attackers could potentially steal session cookies, hijack user sessions, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users within the application. The vulnerability's persistence characteristic makes it particularly dangerous as it can remain undetected for extended periods, continuously compromising user sessions and potentially enabling further attacks within the compromised environment. This flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the security model of the application, allowing attackers to operate with elevated privileges within the victim's browser context.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with immediate database access controls and privilege management to limit who can modify database content. The implementation of proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms represents the primary technical mitigation, ensuring that all database content is properly sanitized before being rendered in web interfaces. This approach aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and follows the OWASP Top Ten security principles for preventing XSS attacks. Additionally, regular database audits and monitoring for unauthorized modifications can help detect potential exploitation attempts, while network segmentation and access controls can limit the scope of potential database breaches that could lead to this vulnerability being exploited.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output escaping in web applications, particularly those handling user-supplied data in database environments. IBM's vulnerability disclosure and the associated X-Force ID indicate that this issue was recognized and addressed through proper security channels, though organizations must remain vigilant about patch management and security updates. The attack vector emphasizes the need for comprehensive security awareness training, as database access privileges represent a significant attack surface that requires careful monitoring and control. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of how seemingly simple input sanitization failures can create persistent security risks that can be exploited by attackers with sufficient access privileges to database systems.