CVE-2019-12475 in Web
Summary
by MITRE
In MicroStrategy Web before 10.4.6, there is stored XSS in metric due to insufficient input validation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-12475 represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw within MicroStrategy Web versions prior to 10.4.6, specifically affecting metric handling functionality. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before storing and rendering it within the web application interface. The vulnerability exists in the metric creation and display processes where user inputs are not sufficiently filtered or escaped, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be persistently stored and executed against unsuspecting users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script code within metric definitions or related data fields. When this malformed data is stored within the application's database and subsequently retrieved for display to other users, the embedded scripts execute within the context of the victim's browser session. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists even after the initial injection point, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over extended periods without requiring repeated exploitation attempts. The vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within user sessions. This can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and potentially full system compromise if users have elevated privileges. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that attackers can establish long-term presence within the application environment, making detection and remediation more challenging. Organizations using affected MicroStrategy Web versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to sensitive business intelligence data, as attackers can manipulate displayed metrics to redirect users to malicious sites or extract information from authenticated sessions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-12475 require immediate application of the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to MicroStrategy Web 10.4.6 or later versions. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including input validation and output encoding at multiple layers of the application architecture, regular security scanning of stored data, and comprehensive user education regarding suspicious content. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional detection and prevention capabilities, though they should not replace proper application-level fixes. Security teams should conduct thorough assessments of affected systems to identify any potential exploitation attempts and monitor for anomalous user behavior or unexpected data modifications that might indicate successful exploitation of this vulnerability.