CVE-2019-12917 in KACE Systems Management Appliance Server Center
Summary
by MITRE
A reflected XSS vulnerability exists in Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance Server Center 9.1.317 affecting the userui/software_library.php component via the PATH_INFO.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2024
The Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance Server Center version 9.1.317 contains a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability that poses significant security risks to organizations relying on this systems management platform. This vulnerability specifically affects the userui/software_library.php component and is triggered through the PATH_INFO parameter, making it exploitable via web browser interactions. The flaw represents a critical weakness in the application's input validation and output encoding mechanisms, potentially allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied input within the PATH_INFO parameter handling. When the application processes requests containing malicious script code within this parameter, it fails to properly encode or escape the output before rendering it in the web interface. This creates an environment where attacker-controlled content can be executed within the context of other users' browsers, effectively bypassing standard security controls. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious script is reflected back to the user from the web application itself, rather than being stored on the server, making it particularly dangerous for targeted attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive organizational data and system resources. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users, or redirect victims to malicious sites designed to harvest credentials. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the KACE appliance is commonly used for system management and often contains privileged access to critical infrastructure components. This vulnerability could enable attackers to escalate privileges within the management environment and potentially gain access to underlying systems managed by the appliance.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding controls to prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability. The recommended approach involves implementing proper parameter sanitization for all PATH_INFO inputs and ensuring that all output is properly encoded before being rendered in the web interface. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regular security testing can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a technique that falls under the ATT&CK tactic of Execution and Persistence. Organizations should also consider upgrading to patched versions of the Quest KACE appliance, as this vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases. The incident highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls and implementing robust input validation practices across all web applications to prevent similar reflected XSS vulnerabilities from compromising system integrity and user security.