CVE-2019-3480 in Arcsight Logger
Summary
by MITRE
Mitigates a stored/reflected XSS issue in ArcSight Logger versions prior to 6.7.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3480 represents a critical stored and reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the ArcSight Logger platform, specifically affecting versions prior to 6.7. This issue resides in the web interface component of the security information and event management system, which processes user input through various HTTP parameters and stored data fields. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious script code into the application's input fields, which then gets stored in the system's database or reflected in web responses without proper sanitization. The flaw allows adversaries to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized access to sensitive system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly escape or encode special characters in user-provided content before displaying it in web pages. When user input containing script tags or malicious payloads is processed and stored within the ArcSight Logger system, the application does not adequately filter or encode these inputs during subsequent retrieval and presentation. This creates an environment where reflected XSS occurs when malicious input is directly included in HTTP responses without proper sanitization, while stored XSS manifests when user data is persisted in the database and later rendered without appropriate encoding. The vulnerability affects the web-based administrative interface and user-facing components that handle various data inputs including search queries, form fields, and parameter values passed through HTTP requests. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability, specifically manifesting as both stored and reflected XSS conditions that can be exploited through different attack vectors.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-3480 extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to compromise the entire ArcSight Logger environment through session manipulation and privilege escalation. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to sensitive security logs, modify system configurations, or establish persistent backdoors within the security infrastructure. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on ArcSight Logger for critical security monitoring and incident response activities, as compromised systems could lead to complete loss of security visibility and potential data breaches. The attack surface is broad since the vulnerability affects both administrative and user interfaces, allowing exploitation through various input points including search functionality, configuration forms, and report generation features. Organizations using affected versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to their security monitoring data, which could include sensitive information about network intrusions, security events, and system vulnerabilities that would otherwise remain protected within the secure logging environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-3480 should prioritize immediate implementation of the vendor-provided security patch for ArcSight Logger version 6.7 or later, which addresses the core input validation and output encoding deficiencies. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including comprehensive input validation at multiple layers, strict output encoding for all user-supplied content, and regular security assessments of web application components. The implementation of content security policies and proper HTTP headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks, while network segmentation and access controls should limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in user input and web request behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) and T1566.001 (Social Engineering: Spearphishing Attachment) as attackers might use the XSS vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads or manipulate user sessions. Organizations should also conduct thorough security awareness training for administrators and implement regular vulnerability scanning procedures to identify similar weaknesses in other web applications within their infrastructure.