CVE-2019-6804 in Community Edition
Summary
by MITRE
An XSS issue was discovered on the Job Edit page in Rundeck Community Edition before 3.0.13, related to assets/javascripts/workflowStepEditorKO.js and views/execution/_wfitemEdit.gsp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2019-6804 represents a cross-site scripting flaw in Rundeck Community Edition that existed prior to version 3.0.13. This security weakness manifests specifically within the Job Edit page functionality, making it a targeted attack vector for malicious actors seeking to exploit web application vulnerabilities. The flaw resides in the JavaScript file assets/javascripts/workflowStepEditorKO.js and the Groovy Server Page views/execution/_wfitemEdit.gsp, indicating a client-side execution context where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to the browser. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness where an application includes untrusted data in a new web page without proper validation or escaping, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker can manipulate input fields within the Job Edit page functionality, specifically within workflow step editors. The JavaScript component workflowStepEditorKO.js likely handles dynamic content rendering for workflow steps, while the GSP template _wfitemEdit.gsp processes server-side rendering of execution workflow items. When user-supplied data containing malicious script code is submitted through these interfaces and subsequently rendered without proper sanitization, it creates an environment where the injected scripts execute in the context of other users' browsers. This behavior constitutes a classic reflected XSS attack pattern where malicious payloads are delivered through web application interfaces and executed by unsuspecting users who view the affected content.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-6804 extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it can enable attackers to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users within the Rundeck environment. Since Rundeck is a workflow automation platform used for managing IT operations, successful exploitation could allow attackers to manipulate job definitions, execute unauthorized workflows, access sensitive configuration data, or potentially escalate privileges within the automation environment. The vulnerability affects the core administrative functionality of the platform, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on Rundeck for critical infrastructure automation tasks. Attackers could leverage this flaw to gain persistent access to automated workflows, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire automation pipeline.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-6804 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Rundeck installations to version 3.0.13 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should also implement input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the affected JavaScript and GSP components, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being rendered in the browser context. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts even if the primary vulnerability is not fully patched. Security monitoring should focus on detecting anomalous user behavior patterns within the Job Edit functionality, particularly around workflow step modifications. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads targeting the specific JavaScript and GSP files mentioned in the vulnerability description, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1213 for credential access and T1566 for credential harvesting through web application attacks.