CVE-2019-8346 in ADSelfService Plus
Summary
by MITRE
In Zoho ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus 5.x through 5704, an authorization.do cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability allows for an unauthenticated manipulation of the JavaScript code by injecting the HTTP form parameter adscsrf. An attacker can use this to capture a user's AD self-service password reset and MFA token.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2023
The CVE-2019-8346 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Zoho ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus versions 5.x through 5704, demonstrating a significant weakness in the application's input validation mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically targets the authorization.do endpoint and exploits the adscsrf HTTP form parameter, creating an attack surface that allows unauthenticated adversaries to inject malicious JavaScript code into the application's response. The flaw stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input, enabling attackers to manipulate the application's behavior without requiring valid authentication credentials. This represents a classic case of CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, where the application fails to properly escape or validate data before incorporating it into dynamic web content. The vulnerability operates within the context of web application security frameworks and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically targeting JavaScript execution contexts.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables attackers to perform sophisticated session hijacking and credential theft operations by manipulating the application's self-service password reset functionality. When an authenticated user interacts with the affected application, the malicious JavaScript injected through the adscsrf parameter can capture sensitive information including AD self-service password reset tokens and multi-factor authentication tokens. This creates a dangerous attack scenario where an attacker can intercept and utilize legitimate user sessions to gain unauthorized access to privileged accounts. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple XSS as it directly compromises the security of the entire authentication ecosystem, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges and move laterally within the network infrastructure. The attack vector leverages the application's trust in form parameters without adequate validation, creating a persistent threat that can be exploited across multiple user sessions.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-8346 poses severe risks to enterprise security posture, particularly in environments where ADSelfService Plus serves as a critical component of identity management and access control. Organizations utilizing affected versions face potential credential compromise, unauthorized access to Active Directory accounts, and possible elevation to administrative privileges through the exploitation of the captured authentication tokens. The vulnerability's unauthenticated nature means that attackers can initiate exploitation without requiring initial access credentials, making it particularly dangerous for perimeter defense strategies. This flaw directly violates fundamental security principles of input validation and output encoding, creating a persistent threat that can be exploited by attackers with minimal technical skill or resources. The potential for data exfiltration and privilege escalation makes this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors targeting enterprise environments.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of Zoho ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus, implementing robust input validation controls, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious form parameter injection attempts. Security measures should include regular security assessments of web applications, implementation of Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution, and monitoring for suspicious parameter manipulation patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper parameter validation and input sanitization in web applications, emphasizing the need for defense-in-depth strategies that include both perimeter controls and application-level security measures. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and implement automated scanning solutions to detect potential XSS flaws in their web applications. The remediation process must include thorough testing to ensure that patches do not introduce regressions while maintaining the application's intended functionality.