CVE-2018-19877 in LogAnalyzer
Summary
by MITRE
login.php in Adiscon LogAnalyzer before 4.1.7 has XSS via the Login Button Referer field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19877 affects Adiscon LogAnalyzer version 4.1.6 and earlier, specifically within the login.php script where cross-site scripting vulnerabilities exist through the Login Button Referer field. This issue represents a classic client-side attack vector that allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the application's login interface. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the web application's authentication flow, where the referer header value is directly incorporated into the page response without proper encoding or filtering. The flaw specifically manifests when the application processes the referer parameter from the login button, which is typically used to redirect users after successful authentication but becomes a potential attack surface when not properly validated.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 Cross-site Scripting flaws, which occur when web applications fail to properly validate or encode user-controllable input before including it in dynamically generated web pages. The attack scenario involves an attacker crafting a malicious referer header containing JavaScript payload that gets executed in the context of a victim's browser when they navigate to the vulnerable login page. This creates a persistent threat vector where authenticated users could be redirected to malicious sites or have their session cookies stolen through the execution of malicious scripts. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it targets the authentication interface, which is a critical component of any security system and represents a prime target for attackers seeking to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to sensitive systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to phishing sites that can compromise the entire user base. Attackers could leverage this weakness to create sophisticated social engineering campaigns where victims unknowingly execute malicious code through the login process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability also exposes the application to potential exploitation through various attack vectors including but not limited to cookie theft, browser fingerprinting, and data exfiltration. Organizations using vulnerable versions of LogAnalyzer face significant risk of unauthorized access to their log data and potentially the broader network infrastructure that relies on these logging systems. The attack surface is particularly dangerous in environments where LogAnalyzer is used for security monitoring, as compromised systems could provide attackers with access to critical security information and potentially enable further lateral movement within the network.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-19877 should focus on immediate patching of the LogAnalyzer application to version 4.1.7 or later, which includes proper input validation and output encoding for the referer field. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as content security policy headers to limit script execution, regular security scanning of web applications, and monitoring for suspicious referer values in web server logs. The implementation of proper input validation frameworks and output encoding mechanisms should be enforced throughout the application to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their entire web application portfolio and establish secure coding practices that align with OWASP Top Ten recommendations and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while regular security awareness training should be provided to ensure personnel understand the risks associated with cross-site scripting vulnerabilities and the importance of keeping software updated.