CVE-2018-19774 in VistaPortal SE
Summary
by MITRE
Cross Site Scripting exists in InfoVista VistaPortal SE Version 5.1 (build 51029). The page "PresentSpace.jsp" has reflected XSS via the GroupId and ConnPoolName parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19774 represents a critical cross site scripting flaw within InfoVista VistaPortal SE Version 5.1, specifically manifesting in the PresentSpace.jsp web page. This issue arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into web responses. The vulnerability affects the GroupId and ConnPoolName parameters, which are processed through reflected cross site scripting vectors where malicious payloads are immediately reflected back to users without proper sanitization. This particular implementation allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information or session hijacking.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows established patterns for reflected cross site scripting attacks, where an attacker crafts malicious URLs containing script payloads that are then submitted to the vulnerable application. When a victim clicks on such a crafted link, the malicious script executes in their browser context, leveraging the legitimate user session to perform unauthorized actions. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines cross site scripting as the failure to properly encode output data, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload is immediately reflected back to the user without being stored on the server, making it particularly dangerous for phishing attacks and session manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to potentially compromise the entire application security posture. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject malicious content that appears to originate from the legitimate application. This could result in unauthorized access to sensitive information, data exfiltration, and potential privilege escalation within the application. The vulnerability affects all users of the affected version of VistaPortal SE, including administrators and regular users, creating a significant risk to the organization's overall security infrastructure. The reflected nature also makes this vulnerability particularly suitable for social engineering attacks where victims are tricked into clicking malicious links, potentially compromising multiple user sessions simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to sanitize all user-supplied parameters. The application should employ context-specific encoding for different output contexts including HTML, JavaScript, and URL contexts. Security patches and updates from InfoVista should be applied immediately to remediate the vulnerability. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional protective layers, while security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious parameter values. Regular security testing including dynamic application security testing and manual penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing secure coding practices and following OWASP top ten guidelines to prevent similar issues in future development cycles. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies and monitoring for anomalous user behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.