CVE-2019-9537 in Automated Message Handling System
Summary
by MITRE
: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in uploaditem.asp of Telos Automated Message Handling System allows a remote attacker to inject arbitrary script into an AMHS session. This issue affects: Telos Automated Message Handling System versions prior to 4.1.5.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9537 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Telos Automated Message Handling System that exposes organizations to significant security risks. This weakness resides in the uploaditem.asp component of the AMHS platform, where insufficient input validation permits malicious actors to inject harmful scripts into web pages generated during AMHS sessions. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions prior to 4.1.5.5, indicating that organizations running older iterations of this automated messaging system remain susceptible to exploitation. The flaw fundamentally undermines the system's ability to properly sanitize user inputs, creating an attack vector that can be leveraged by remote adversaries without requiring authentication or privileged access.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting as a code injection attack that occurs when an application includes untrusted data in a web page without proper validation or escaping. In the context of the Telos AMHS, the improper neutralization of input during web page generation creates an environment where malicious scripts can execute within the context of other users' browsers. When a user interacts with the system through the vulnerable uploaditem.asp page, any specially crafted input containing script code can be processed and rendered, potentially executing arbitrary commands or stealing session cookies. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means attackers can target users from any location without requiring physical access to the system infrastructure, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on web-based interfaces for message handling operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the compromised environment. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal sensitive information from authenticated users, manipulate message processing workflows, or even escalate privileges within the system. The nature of automated message handling systems means that such attacks could potentially disrupt critical communication processes, compromise message integrity, and expose confidential data. Organizations utilizing Telos AMHS for sensitive communications, including government agencies, financial institutions, or healthcare providers, face particular risk as these entities often handle highly confidential information that could be targeted by adversaries. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access through session hijacking or to conduct more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft or data exfiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-9537 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to version 4.1.5.5 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly neutralize input during web page generation. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including input validation at multiple layers, output encoding for all dynamic content, and regular security assessments of web applications. The implementation of content security policies can provide additional protection against script injection attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in upload activities or unexpected script execution within the system. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving code injection and credential access, with potential for lateral movement and privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in automated messaging systems.