CVE-2018-5432 in Administrator
Summary
by MITRE
The TIBCO Administrator server component of of TIBCO Software Inc.'s TIBCO Administrator - Enterprise Edition, and TIBCO Administrator - Enterprise Edition for z/Linux contains multiple vulnerabilities wherein a malicious user could theoretically perform cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks by way of manipulating artifacts prior to uploading them. Affected releases are TIBCO Software Inc.'s TIBCO Administrator - Enterprise Edition: versions up to and including 5.10.0, and TIBCO Administrator - Enterprise Edition for z/Linux: versions up to and including 5.9.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5432 resides within the TIBCO Administrator server component of TIBCO Software Inc.'s enterprise monitoring and management platform. This critical security flaw affects both the standard enterprise edition and the specialized z/Linux version, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors seeking to exploit cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. The vulnerability specifically manifests when users manipulate artifacts prior to uploading them into the system, allowing for the injection of malicious scripts that can persist within the application's environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the artifact upload processing pipeline. When users prepare and submit artifacts for processing within the TIBCO Administrator environment, the system fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into the web application's response. This weakness enables attackers to embed malicious JavaScript code within artifact metadata or file contents, which then executes in the context of other users' browsers when the system displays these artifacts. The vulnerability is classified as a persistent cross-site scripting issue under CWE-79, which specifically addresses the improper neutralization of input during web page generation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code within the context of authenticated users' sessions. This could potentially allow for complete system compromise, especially if administrators interact with the vulnerable artifacts or if the application provides elevated privileges to users within the system. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages legitimate upload functionality, making it difficult to distinguish between benign and malicious content at the network level. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers the exploitation of web applications through malicious file uploads.
Organizations utilizing affected TIBCO Administrator versions face substantial risk exposure, particularly in environments where the system handles sensitive operational data or where administrative access is granted to multiple users. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 5.10.0 for the standard edition and 5.9.1 for the z/Linux version, indicating a broad scope of potentially vulnerable installations. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the application's security architecture, as it undermines the fundamental principle of input validation and demonstrates insufficient defense-in-depth measures. The risk is amplified by the fact that the vulnerability exists within a management interface, potentially providing attackers with access to operational controls and sensitive system information. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, content security policies, and application-level sanitization measures to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.