CVE-2018-19820 in VistaPortal SE
Summary
by MITRE
Cross Site Scripting exists in InfoVista VistaPortal SE Version 5.1 (build 51029). The page "/VPortal/mgtconsole/Roles.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-2018-19820 represents a cross site scripting flaw in InfoVista VistaPortal SE Version 5.1, specifically within the management console interface. This issue manifests in the Roles.jsp page where user input containing the ConnPoolName parameter is not properly sanitized before being reflected back to the user's browser. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross Site Scripting, which is classified as a critical security weakness in web applications. The reflected nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious input is immediately returned to the victim's browser without any server-side processing, making it particularly dangerous for exploitation. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when executed in a victim's browser, can perform unauthorized actions on their behalf or steal sensitive session information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with a potential entry point for more sophisticated attacks within the InfoVista VistaPortal environment. When an attacker successfully injects malicious JavaScript through the ConnPoolName parameter, they can potentially hijack user sessions, steal authentication tokens, redirect users to malicious sites, or even escalate privileges within the application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the management console, which typically contains sensitive administrative functions and access controls. The specific page affected, /VPortal/mgtconsole/Roles.jsp, suggests this vulnerability could be exploited to manipulate role-based access controls or gain unauthorized administrative privileges. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, where attackers leverage browser-based scripting capabilities to execute malicious code.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal prerequisites as it involves simple parameter manipulation through URL parameters. Attackers can craft URLs containing malicious JavaScript payloads in the ConnPoolName parameter and deliver them to victims through phishing emails, compromised websites, or social engineering tactics. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious script executes immediately when a victim accesses the crafted URL, making it an attractive target for automated exploitation tools. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of input validation failure in web applications, where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into web page responses without proper sanitization. The issue demonstrates the critical importance of implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout web applications, particularly in administrative interfaces where sensitive operations are performed. Organizations using InfoVista VistaPortal SE Version 5.1 should prioritize immediate remediation through software updates, input validation patches, or web application firewall rules to prevent exploitation of this reflected XSS vulnerability. The vulnerability also underscores the necessity of regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar issues in other application components that may not have been specifically targeted by vulnerability scanners.