CVE-2019-19453 in Streaming Engine
Summary
by MITRE
Wowza Streaming Engine through 2019-11-28 allows XSS (issue 1 of 2).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-19453 represents a cross-site scripting weakness within Wowza Streaming Engine versions up to 2019-11-28, specifically categorized under CWE-79 as improper neutralization of input during web page generation. This flaw enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, potentially compromising the security of streaming applications that rely on this media server platform. The vulnerability manifests in the application's handling of user-supplied input within web interfaces, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute unauthorized code in the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of input parameters within the streaming engine's web administration interface. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that are then executed when other users navigate to affected pages or interact with the vulnerable components. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution, as it can potentially enable session hijacking, data theft, and further exploitation within the compromised environment. The flaw exists in the server's response handling mechanism where user input is directly reflected in web responses without proper encoding or sanitization measures.
Operational implications of this vulnerability are significant for organizations utilizing Wowza Streaming Engine in production environments, particularly those handling sensitive streaming content or user data. The attack surface includes administrators and end users who may inadvertently interact with maliciously crafted links or embedded content within the streaming platform's web interface. This vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including phishing campaigns, compromised third-party integrations, or by leveraging existing access to the platform to inject malicious scripts that persist across user sessions. The impact is amplified in environments where the streaming engine serves as a critical component of content delivery infrastructure, potentially affecting multiple concurrent users and sessions simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-19453 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Wowza Streaming Engine installations to the latest available versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all web interfaces, ensuring that user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being processed or displayed. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of the streaming engine's web interface to unauthorized users. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against XSS attacks. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous user behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should verify the effectiveness of implemented controls against similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should align with industry best practices and security frameworks such as those recommended by the OWASP organization and NIST guidelines for web application security.