CVE-2018-5307 in Nexus Repository Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager (aka NXRM) 2.x before 2.14.6 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via (1) the repoId or (2) format parameter to service/siesta/healthcheck/healthCheckFileDetail/.../index.html; (3) the filename in the "File Upload" functionality of the Staging Upload; (4) the username when creating a new user; or (5) the IQ Server URL field in the IQ Server Connection functionality.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2020
The CVE-2018-5307 vulnerability represents a significant cross-site scripting flaw in Sonatype Nexus Repository Manager version 2.x prior to 2.14.6, exposing multiple attack vectors that could enable remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of affected web applications. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically targeting the web application's input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. The flaw exists in the repository manager's handling of various parameters and input fields, creating persistent opportunities for attackers to inject malicious payloads that can compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the repository environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability spans multiple components of the Nexus Repository Manager interface, with the most critical attack vectors including the repoId and format parameters in the service/siesta/healthcheck/healthCheckFileDetail/.../index.html endpoint where unvalidated input directly influences dynamic content generation. Additionally, the Staging Upload functionality contains a file upload mechanism that fails to sanitize the filename parameter, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts during file upload operations. The vulnerability also extends to user creation processes where the username field lacks proper input sanitization, and the IQ Server Connection functionality suffers from insufficient validation of the IQ Server URL field, all of which create pathways for persistent XSS attacks that can be exploited by remote adversaries without authentication.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-5307 is substantial as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts in the context of authenticated users, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, and unauthorized access to repository contents. The vulnerability's widespread nature across multiple functional areas of the Nexus Repository Manager means that successful exploitation could compromise the entire repository infrastructure, allowing attackers to manipulate repository configurations, access sensitive artifacts, and potentially exfiltrate proprietary software components. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1566 (Phishing) techniques, as attackers could leverage these XSS vectors to deliver malicious payloads and establish persistent access to the repository environment. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that these vulnerabilities affect both administrative and regular user functionality, making them particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Nexus repositories serve as critical components of software delivery pipelines.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through updating to Nexus Repository Manager version 2.14.6 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms for all affected parameters. The mitigation strategy should include implementing proper content security policies to prevent script execution, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of all repository configurations. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict input validation at multiple layers, establishing robust output encoding practices, and conducting regular security testing of web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the software supply chain. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to these specific attack vectors and establish incident response procedures for handling potential exploitation attempts.