CVE-2019-19085 in Octopus Server
Summary
by MITRE
A persistent cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Octopus Server 3.4.0 through 2019.10.5 allows remote authenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-19085 represents a critical persistent cross-site scripting flaw within Octopus Server versions ranging from 3.4.0 through 2019.10.5. This security weakness enables remote authenticated attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data and system compromise. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Octopus Server web interface, which fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when authenticated users interact with the Octopus Server administration interface, particularly when processing user-generated content or configuration parameters. Attackers can exploit this flaw by injecting malicious JavaScript code into fields that are subsequently displayed to other users without proper sanitization. The persistent nature of this vulnerability means that the injected scripts remain active and execute each time affected pages are loaded, making it particularly dangerous for environments where multiple users interact with the system. This flaw aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and represents a significant deviation from secure coding practices that require strict input validation and output encoding.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-19085 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can facilitate session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized system access within the Octopus Server environment. An attacker with legitimate credentials could inject malicious code into shared configuration areas or deployment parameters, potentially compromising the entire deployment pipeline. This vulnerability particularly affects DevOps environments where Octopus Server serves as a critical deployment orchestration platform, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise continuous integration and deployment processes. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that Octopus Server is commonly used in enterprise environments where it handles sensitive deployment configurations and access credentials.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected Octopus Server versions to the latest releases that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms and output encoding across all user-facing interfaces to prevent similar issues in the future. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper sanitization of user inputs aligns with recommended practices from the OWASP Top Ten and provides additional defense-in-depth measures. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their Octopus Server deployments to identify any other potential XSS vulnerabilities within the system and establish monitoring procedures to detect suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the applied patches do not introduce regressions in system functionality while maintaining the integrity of the deployment automation processes that Octopus Server facilitates.