CVE-2019-13081 in KACE Systems Management Appliance Server Center
Summary
by MITRE
Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance Server Center 9.1.317 has an XSS vulnerability (via the title field in the /common/ticket_associated_tickets.php service desk ticket functionality) that allows an authenticated user to execute arbitrary JavaScript in a service desk user's browser.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2024
The CVE-2019-13081 vulnerability resides within the Quest KACE Systems Management Appliance Server Center version 9.1.317, specifically targeting the service desk ticket functionality through the title field in the /common/ticket_associated_tickets.php endpoint. This represents a classic cross-site scripting vulnerability that exploits the failure to properly sanitize user input before rendering it within web pages. The flaw allows an authenticated attacker with access to the service desk functionality to inject malicious JavaScript code into ticket titles, which then executes in the browser of any user who views the affected ticket. This vulnerability specifically impacts the web interface's handling of user-supplied data, creating a persistent threat vector where malicious payloads can be stored and executed against unsuspecting users.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper validation or encoding. The attack vector requires an authenticated user context, meaning that adversaries must first obtain valid credentials to the KACE appliance before exploiting this weakness. The vulnerability occurs because the application fails to implement proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms when processing the title field parameter. When a malicious user submits a ticket with JavaScript code embedded in the title field, the system stores this input without adequate filtering, allowing the script to execute when other users browse the ticket details page. This creates a persistent threat where the malicious code can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing arbitrary commands within the victim's browser context.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-13081 extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables a range of sophisticated attacks that can compromise the entire service desk environment. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal authentication tokens and session cookies from legitimate users, potentially gaining unauthorized access to the KACE appliance and its underlying systems. The vulnerability also facilitates phishing attacks where malicious users could be redirected to fake login pages or have their credentials harvested through crafted JavaScript payloads. Additionally, the persistent nature of the stored XSS means that the malicious code remains active until the affected ticket is deleted or modified, allowing attackers to maintain long-term access to the system. This threat is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where service desk tickets often contain sensitive information and where multiple users regularly access the same ticketing interface.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of the KACE appliance to the latest available version that addresses this specific XSS flaw. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the number of authenticated users who can create or modify service desk tickets, thereby reducing the attack surface. Input validation and output encoding mechanisms should be enhanced to ensure that all user-supplied data, particularly in fields that are rendered in web interfaces, undergoes proper sanitization before being stored or displayed. Regular security assessments and web application firewalls should be deployed to detect and prevent malicious payload delivery attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing security awareness training for service desk personnel, as social engineering attacks that exploit this weakness could be particularly effective when combined with user credential compromise. Organizations should also consider implementing automated monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous ticket creation patterns or unusual JavaScript code injection attempts within their service desk systems.