CVE-2019-9207 in PRTG Network Monitor
Summary
by MITRE
PRTG Network Monitor v7.1.3.3378 allows XSS via the /search.htm searchtext parameter. NOTE: This product is discontinued.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2019-9207 affects PRTG Network Monitor version 7.1.3.3378, a network monitoring solution that has since been discontinued. This issue represents a cross-site scripting vulnerability that arises from improper input validation within the web interface. The specific vector involves the /search.htm endpoint where the searchtext parameter fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it within the web response. This flaw enables attackers to inject malicious script code that executes in the context of other users' browsers who access the affected search functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape or encode user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. When a user submits a search query through the /search.htm page, the searchtext parameter is directly reflected in the HTTP response without appropriate sanitization measures. This creates a classic XSS attack surface where malicious payloads can be executed in the browser context of authenticated users. The vulnerability manifests as reflected cross-site scripting, meaning the malicious script is embedded in the search parameter and immediately executed when the page loads, without requiring persistence or storage of the malicious content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities within the context of the victim's session. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious websites, or extract sensitive information from the network monitoring environment. Given that PRTG Network Monitor typically handles network infrastructure monitoring data, the potential for information disclosure or privilege escalation increases significantly. The vulnerability affects all users who can access the search functionality, potentially compromising the security of network administrators and other personnel who rely on the system for monitoring critical infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-9207 should focus on immediate remediation through input validation and output encoding practices. Organizations should implement proper parameter sanitization by escaping special characters such as angle brackets, quotes, and script tags before rendering user input in web responses. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent script execution. Given that this product is discontinued, organizations should consider migrating to supported network monitoring solutions that maintain current security practices. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a common weakness in web application security that falls under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify similar input handling issues throughout the application's codebase and implement proper secure coding practices to prevent future occurrences of reflected XSS vulnerabilities.