CVE-2019-19393 in CMC PU III
Summary
by MITRE • 10/04/2020
The Web application on Rittal CMC PU III 7030.000 V3.00 V3.11.00_2 to V3.15.70_4 devices fails to sanitize user input on the system configurations page. This allows an attacker to backdoor the device with HTML and browser-interpreted content (such as JavaScript or other client-side scripts) as the content is always displayed after and before login. Persistent XSS allows an attacker to modify displayed content or to change the victim's information. Successful exploitation requires access to the web management interface, either with valid credentials or a hijacked session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-19393 affects the Rittal CMC PU III 7030.000 V3.00 V3.11.00_2 to V3.15.70_4 devices, specifically targeting the web application interface used for system configuration management. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the device's web-based management interface and exposes organizations to significant operational risks. The affected devices are part of the Rittal CMC PU III series, which are industrial power distribution units designed for data center and server room environments, making them critical infrastructure components that require robust security measures.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization mechanisms within the web application's system configurations page. The vulnerability manifests as a persistent cross-site scripting vulnerability where user input is not properly validated or sanitized before being rendered back to users. This allows an attacker to inject malicious HTML and browser-interpreted content including JavaScript code and other client-side scripts. The flaw is particularly dangerous because the injected content is displayed both before and after login, meaning that even unauthenticated users can be affected by the malicious code execution. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as "Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')", specifically manifesting as persistent XSS where the malicious payload is stored on the server and executed against multiple users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, representing a significant threat to both network security and operational integrity. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can modify displayed content on the device's web interface, potentially altering critical system information or misleading administrators about the device's status. More critically, the persistent nature of the XSS allows attackers to change victim information, potentially leading to unauthorized configuration changes that could disrupt power distribution or compromise the security of connected systems. The attack requires only access to the web management interface, which can be achieved through valid credentials or session hijacking, making the vulnerability particularly accessible. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript' and T1566.001 for 'Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment', as it enables attackers to execute malicious scripts against legitimate users.
The security implications extend beyond simple information disclosure, as this vulnerability could enable attackers to perform session hijacking, redirect users to malicious sites, or even execute arbitrary code within the victim's browser context. The fact that the vulnerability affects both pre-login and post-login displays means that even users attempting to access the device's interface for legitimate purposes could be compromised. Organizations utilizing these devices face potential risks including unauthorized access to system configuration data, modification of critical power management settings, and potential disruption of services in data center environments where these units are typically deployed. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure, particularly in environments where these devices serve as critical points of access control and power management.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate remediation through firmware updates provided by Rittal, as well as implementing network segmentation to limit access to the web management interface. Organizations should enforce strict access controls and implement multi-factor authentication for all administrative interfaces. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications, with specific recommendations including the implementation of proper content security policies and regular security assessments of industrial control systems. Additionally, administrators should conduct regular security training to recognize potential phishing attempts that could lead to credential compromise and unauthorized access to these critical infrastructure devices.