CVE-2019-15898 in Log Server
Summary
by MITRE
Nagios Log Server before 2.0.8 allows Reflected XSS via the username on the Login page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-15898 represents a critical reflected cross-site scripting flaw in Nagios Log Server versions prior to 2.0.8. This security weakness exists within the authentication mechanism of the web interface, specifically targeting the login page where user credentials are processed. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the application's handling of username parameters, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into the web application's response.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing crafted script code within the username parameter and delivers it to a victim through social engineering or phishing techniques. When the victim clicks the malicious link and the application processes the username input without proper sanitization, the reflected script executes within the victim's browser context. This flaw operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is reflected back to users without proper encoding or validation. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics aligned with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which involves the use of spearphishing attachments to deliver malicious payloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with the capability to hijack user sessions, steal authentication tokens, and potentially escalate privileges within the Nagios Log Server environment. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to log data, modify system configurations, or redirect users to malicious websites. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the attack vector is typically delivered through crafted links that appear legitimate to users, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may trust the Nagios Log Server interface. This vulnerability significantly weakens the security posture of organizations relying on Nagios Log Server for monitoring and log analysis, as it provides an entry point for attackers to compromise the system's integrity and confidentiality.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Nagios Log Server version 2.0.8 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the reflected XSS vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms at the application level can provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls should also be configured to detect and block malicious requests containing common XSS payload patterns. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other potentially affected components within their monitoring infrastructure and ensure that proper security controls are in place to prevent similar issues from occurring in other applications. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the patched version to ensure that the security fix does not introduce any regressions or compatibility issues within the existing monitoring environment.