CVE-2018-19818 in VistaPortal SE
Summary
by MITRE
Cross Site Scripting exists in InfoVista VistaPortal SE Version 5.1 (build 51029). The page "/VPortal/mgtconsole/Contacts.jsp" has reflected XSS via the ConnPoolName parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19818 represents a cross site scripting flaw within InfoVista VistaPortal SE Version 5.1, specifically manifesting in the management console interface at the Contacts.jsp page. This issue arises from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before it is reflected back to the browser. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web page content without appropriate sanitization or encoding measures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the ConnPoolName parameter which is processed by the Contacts.jsp page. When an attacker crafts a malicious payload and submits it via this parameter, the application fails to adequately escape or encode the input before rendering it in the web response. This reflected XSS vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of the victim's browser session, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it exists within the management console interface, providing potential attackers with access to administrative functions and sensitive operational data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the InfoVista ecosystem. An attacker could potentially establish persistent malicious scripts that would execute whenever the affected page is accessed, allowing for prolonged surveillance or data exfiltration. Given that this vulnerability exists in a management console interface, successful exploitation could provide unauthorized access to network configuration data, user credentials, and other sensitive operational information. The reflected nature of this XSS means that the attack vector requires user interaction through a specially crafted link, but once triggered, the malicious script executes in the victim's browser context with the privileges of that user.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-19818 should prioritize immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding controls within the affected application components. The primary defense mechanism involves implementing proper HTML escaping and encoding of all user-supplied inputs before they are rendered in web responses, specifically addressing the ConnPoolName parameter in the Contacts.jsp page. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities and reduce the impact of successful XSS attempts. Additionally, the vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers scripting through web shells, making this a critical vulnerability for organizations to address promptly. Regular security assessments and input validation reviews should be conducted to prevent similar issues in other application components, with particular attention to all parameters processed by the management console interfaces. The remediation should also include updating to the latest available version of InfoVista VistaPortal SE where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms.