CVE-2018-18864 in Enterprise VA MAX
Summary
by MITRE
Loadbalancer.org Enterprise VA MAX before 8.3.3 has XSS because Apache HTTP Server logs are displayed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18864 affects Loadbalancer.org Enterprise VA MAX appliances running versions prior to 8.3.3, presenting a cross-site scripting vulnerability that stems from improper handling of Apache HTTP Server log data within the appliance's web interface. This security flaw resides in the administrative console where system logs are displayed to authorized users, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into the web application's output. The vulnerability manifests when the appliance processes and renders Apache HTTP Server log entries without adequate input sanitization or output encoding, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic cross-site scripting pattern where user-controllable input from log files is directly rendered into web pages without proper sanitization measures. When Apache HTTP Server generates log entries containing specially crafted payloads, these entries are displayed within the Loadbalancer.org web interface without appropriate HTML encoding or script validation. This behavior creates a persistent XSS vector where an attacker could potentially inject malicious JavaScript code through log entries generated by exploiting other vulnerabilities or by manipulating log data. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", which specifically addresses the failure to properly encode or escape user-provided data before including it in web page output.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive administrative credentials, or manipulate the appliance's administrative interface. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to the appliance's administrative functions, potentially leading to complete compromise of the load balancing infrastructure. The attack vector typically involves crafting malicious input that gets logged by the Apache HTTP Server and subsequently displayed within the vulnerable web interface, making this a server-side XSS vulnerability that can persist across multiple sessions. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript' and T1566.001 for 'Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment', as it enables both direct code execution and social engineering attacks targeting administrators.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-18864 primarily focus on upgrading to Loadbalancer.org Enterprise VA MAX version 8.3.3 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms for log data display. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as network segmentation to limit access to the appliance's administrative interface, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conducting regular security assessments of the appliance's web interface. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly when displaying data from external sources or system logs, and serves as a reminder of the critical need for regular security updates and patch management processes in enterprise infrastructure components.