CVE-2018-19394 in Satcom Sailor 800
Summary
by MITRE
Cobham Satcom Sailor 800 and 900 devices contained persistent XSS, which required administrative access to exploit. The vulnerability was exploitable by acquiring a copy of the device's configuration file, inserting an XSS payload into a relevant field (e.g., Satellite name), and then restoring the malicious configuration file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19394 affects Cobham Satcom Sailor 800 and 900 satellite communication devices, representing a persistent cross-site scripting flaw that demonstrates significant security weaknesses in embedded network equipment. This vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize input data, specifically within the device configuration management system where user-supplied values are not properly validated or escaped before being rendered in web interfaces. The flaw exists in the device's web-based administrative interface where configuration parameters are stored and subsequently displayed to authenticated users, creating an environment where malicious payloads can be injected and executed persistently across user sessions.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires administrative access to the device, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and privilege escalation considerations. Attackers must first gain administrative credentials to access the device's configuration interface, then acquire a copy of the device's configuration file through legitimate administrative functions. The malicious payload insertion occurs when an attacker modifies a configuration field such as the Satellite name field, which is then stored in the device's memory and subsequently rendered in the web interface without proper sanitization. This creates a persistent XSS vulnerability where the malicious script executes every time the affected field is displayed to any authenticated user who accesses the device's web interface, effectively turning the device into a vector for executing arbitrary code against authenticated users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access to the device's administrative interface and potentially compromise the entire communication network. When an authenticated user loads the device configuration page, the malicious script executes within their browser context, allowing attackers to steal session cookies, modify device settings, or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability's persistence means that even after the initial compromise, the malicious payload remains active until the device is physically rebooted or the configuration file is manually corrected, creating a long-term threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly. This type of vulnerability particularly affects critical infrastructure communications where satellite systems serve as primary communication channels for emergency services, military operations, and commercial maritime navigation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-19394 should include immediate implementation of network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, enforcement of strict access controls through multi-factor authentication, and regular monitoring of device configuration changes. Organizations should implement automated configuration management systems that validate and sanitize all input parameters before they are stored or rendered in web interfaces. Network administrators must establish procedures for regular configuration file audits and implement intrusion detection systems that can identify anomalous configuration changes. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of secure configuration management practices, where device backups are encrypted and integrity-checked before restoration, as well as implementing application-level security controls that prevent untrusted data from being executed within the device's web interface context. Additionally, regular security updates and firmware patches should be applied promptly, as this vulnerability likely represents a known issue that would have been addressed in subsequent device releases according to industry standards for secure embedded system development.