CVE-2018-18775 in Web
Summary
by MITRE
Microstrategy Web, version 7, does not sufficiently encode user-controlled inputs, resulting in a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability via the Login.asp Msg parameter. NOTE: this is a deprecated product.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18775 affects Microstrategy Web version 7, a deprecated enterprise business intelligence platform that has been superseded by newer versions. This security flaw represents a classic cross-site scripting vulnerability that emerges from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's login functionality. The specific vector of exploitation occurs through the Login.asp Msg parameter, which fails to properly sanitize user-provided data before rendering it in the web interface. This oversight creates a pathway for malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into the application's response, potentially compromising user sessions and data confidentiality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to apply proper encoding mechanisms when processing the Msg parameter in the Login.asp page. When user-controlled input is directly incorporated into web responses without adequate sanitization, it creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious JavaScript code. This weakness aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities, and represents a fundamental failure in the application's input validation and output encoding practices. The vulnerability exists at the intersection of improper input handling and insufficient output sanitization, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited across different client environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user credentials, and potentially gain unauthorized access to business intelligence data. In enterprise environments where Microstrategy Web serves as a critical business intelligence platform, this vulnerability could expose sensitive corporate data, financial reports, and strategic information. The deprecated nature of version 7 means that organizations may not have received security updates or patches, leaving them particularly vulnerable to exploitation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to the system, making it a significant concern for organizations that continue to operate legacy systems without proper security controls.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability by implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms for all user-controllable parameters. The recommended approach involves applying proper HTML encoding to all user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses, implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, and conducting thorough input validation to prevent malicious payloads from being processed. Additionally, organizations should consider migrating away from deprecated software versions and implementing comprehensive security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software systems and implementing robust security controls throughout the application lifecycle, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's application security categories that emphasize the need for secure input handling and output encoding practices.