CVE-2018-19819 in VistaPortal SE
Summary
by MITRE
Cross Site Scripting exists in InfoVista VistaPortal SE Version 5.1 (build 51029). The page "/VPortal/mgtconsole/Rights.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-2018-19819 represents a cross site scripting flaw within InfoVista VistaPortal SE Version 5.1, specifically manifesting in the management console interface. This security weakness resides in the Rights.jsp page which processes user input through the ConnPoolName parameter, creating an avenue for malicious code injection. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that attacker-controlled input is immediately reflected back in the application's response without proper sanitization or encoding, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that handle user-supplied data. The vulnerability affects the administrative console functionality, potentially allowing unauthorized users to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated sessions.
This XSS vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical web application security flaw that enables attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The specific implementation flaw occurs when the application fails to properly validate and sanitize input parameters before incorporating them into dynamic web content. The ConnPoolName parameter serves as the attack vector where unfiltered user input gets directly embedded into the HTML response, creating a persistent injection point that can be exploited across multiple sessions. The vulnerability exists in the management console context, suggesting that successful exploitation could provide attackers with elevated privileges within the application's administrative interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, and potential privilege escalation within the InfoVista VistaPortal environment. Attackers could leverage this flaw to steal authentication cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject persistent malicious scripts that would execute whenever the affected page is accessed. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the attack requires user interaction, typically through phishing emails or malicious links, but once triggered, it can compromise the security of authenticated sessions. The vulnerability affects the management console functionality, which typically handles sensitive administrative operations, making it a high-value target for attackers seeking to gain unauthorized access to network management systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-19819 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's codebase. The primary fix involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters, particularly those used in dynamic content generation, through proper HTML encoding before rendering them in the response. Organizations should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, highlighting the need for comprehensive defensive measures. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses in other application components. Patch management procedures should be implemented to ensure timely updates to the InfoVista VistaPortal software, as this vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while user education programs should emphasize the dangers of clicking suspicious links in email communications.