CVE-2019-6504 in Automic Workload Automation
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient output sanitization in the Automic Web Interface (AWI), in CA Automic Workload Automation 12.0 to 12.2, allow attackers to potentially conduct persistent cross site scripting (XSS) attacks via a crafted object.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-6504 resides within the Automic Web Interface component of CA Automic Workload Automation versions 12.0 through 12.2. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that stems from inadequate sanitization of output data within the web interface, creating persistent cross site scripting attack vectors. The vulnerability specifically affects the handling of crafted object inputs that are processed and rendered within the web application's user interface. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious script code into objects that are subsequently displayed to users, thereby enabling persistent XSS attacks that can compromise user sessions and potentially escalate to full system compromise. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft as it can facilitate session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized administrative access to the workload automation environment.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities in web applications. This weakness occurs when web applications fail to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages, allowing malicious scripts to be executed in the context of other users' browsers. The flaw manifests in the Automic Web Interface's object handling mechanism where crafted input objects are not adequately validated or sanitized before being displayed to end users. The persistent nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious scripts can be stored on the server and executed whenever affected users view the compromised objects, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where multiple users interact with the same automation platform. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be executed through standard web browser interactions, making it highly accessible to threat actors.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-6504 in enterprise environments is substantial, particularly for organizations that rely heavily on workload automation for critical business processes. A successful exploitation could enable attackers to access sensitive automation workflows, steal authentication credentials, manipulate scheduled tasks, and potentially gain unauthorized access to underlying systems that are orchestrated through the Automic platform. The vulnerability's persistence characteristic means that once exploited, the malicious scripts can continue to execute against all affected users without requiring repeated attacks, creating a long-term security risk. Organizations using CA Automic Workload Automation in regulated environments face additional compliance risks, as this vulnerability could potentially violate data protection regulations and security framework requirements. The impact extends to operational continuity as attackers could disrupt workflow automation processes, modify execution schedules, or introduce malicious code into critical business processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-6504 should focus on immediate patching of affected CA Automic Workload Automation versions, with the vendor releasing security updates to address the insufficient output sanitization issue. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms within their web applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed. Network segmentation and privileged access controls should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar output sanitization weaknesses in other web applications within the enterprise environment. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and real-time monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched environments to ensure that the security fixes do not introduce regressions in functionality while maintaining the integrity of the workload automation processes.