CVE-2019-10070 in Atlas
Summary
by MITRE
Apache Atlas versions 0.8.3 and 1.1.0 were found vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting in the search functionality
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/19/2019
Apache Atlas version 0.8.3 and 1.1.0 contained a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that exposed users to persistent malicious code execution through the search functionality. This vulnerability falls under CWE-079 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which represents one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The flaw allowed attackers to inject malicious scripts into search queries that would then be executed whenever other users viewed the search results, creating a persistent threat vector that could compromise user sessions and potentially lead to full system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stemmed from inadequate input sanitization within the search processing pipeline of Apache Atlas. When users submitted search terms containing malicious script code, the application failed to properly escape or encode the input before rendering it in the user interface. This oversight created an environment where attackers could store malicious payloads that would execute in the context of other users' browsers, effectively enabling session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability was particularly concerning because it affected both major versions of the software, indicating a fundamental flaw in the input validation mechanisms rather than a simple coding error.
The operational impact of this stored XSS vulnerability was significant for organizations relying on Apache Atlas for metadata management and governance. Attackers could exploit this weakness to steal user credentials, manipulate search results to display malicious content, or redirect users to phishing sites. The persistent nature of stored XSS meant that once an attacker successfully injected malicious code, it would continue to affect all users who viewed the compromised search results until the malicious payload was manually removed. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1531 - Account Access Removal and T1566 - Phishing, as it enabled attackers to establish persistent access and conduct social engineering campaigns through the compromised search functionality.
Organizations using affected versions of Apache Atlas should immediately implement mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and content security policy enforcement. The recommended approach involves implementing strict sanitization of all user inputs before processing and rendering, deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads, and implementing proper output encoding for all dynamic content. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments and ensure that all instances of Apache Atlas are updated to patched versions that address this vulnerability. The incident highlights the critical importance of input validation in web applications and demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in user interface components can create significant security risks. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the necessity for comprehensive security testing and the implementation of defense-in-depth strategies to protect against persistent threats in metadata management systems.