CVE-2018-7049 in Streaming Engine
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Wowza Streaming Engine before 4.7.1. There is an XSS vulnerability in the HTTP providers (com.wowza.wms.http.HTTPProviderMediaList and com.wowza.wms.http.streammanager.HTTPStreamManager) causing script injection and/or reflection via a crafted HTTP request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7049 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within Wowza Streaming Engine versions prior to 4.7.1, specifically affecting the HTTP providers responsible for media list and stream management functionalities. This issue arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web interface components that handle HTTP requests. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects core streaming engine functionalities that are commonly exposed to external network traffic, making it an attractive target for malicious actors seeking to exploit web application weaknesses. The affected HTTP providers com.wowza.wms.http.HTTPProviderMediaList and com.wowza.wms.http.streammanager.HTTPStreamManager process user-supplied data without proper sanitization, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious scripts into the application's response.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted HTTP requests that contain malicious script payloads designed to exploit the lack of proper input validation. When the streaming engine processes these requests, the malformed data is reflected back to users without appropriate encoding or filtering, allowing the injected scripts to execute within the context of the victim's browser session. This reflection mechanism enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script injection attacks. The impact is amplified because streaming engine interfaces are often accessible to multiple users and may contain sensitive operational data about media streams and server configurations.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on Wowza Streaming Engine for their media delivery infrastructure. Attackers could leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to streaming sessions, potentially compromising the integrity of live broadcasts or recorded content. The reflected nature of the XSS attack means that malicious payloads could be delivered through various vectors including email links, compromised websites, or direct injection into streaming management interfaces. Organizations utilizing these streaming platforms may experience unauthorized access to their media libraries, potential disruption of streaming services, and exposure of sensitive operational information. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can serve as a foothold for more sophisticated attacks targeting the underlying streaming infrastructure and associated network resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7049 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Wowza Streaming Engine installations to version 4.7.1 or later, which includes proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts, along with comprehensive input sanitization measures at the application level. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of streaming engine interfaces to untrusted networks. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the streaming infrastructure. The implementation of content security policies and proper output encoding practices aligns with industry best practices for preventing XSS vulnerabilities and should be integrated into the overall security posture of streaming platforms. Additionally, monitoring and logging mechanisms should be enhanced to detect suspicious HTTP request patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation of this or similar vulnerabilities.