CVE-2019-9540 in Automated Message Handling System
Summary
by MITRE
: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in prefs.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.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2020
The CVE-2019-9540 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Telos Automated Message Handling System that exposes organizations to significant security risks through improper input sanitization during web page generation. This vulnerability specifically impacts the prefs.asp component of the AMHS platform, which serves as a critical interface for system configuration and user preferences management. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious scripts into AMHS sessions, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive communications within automated message handling environments. Organizations utilizing versions prior to 4.1.5.5 face elevated risk of unauthorized access and data manipulation through this vector.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and sanitization of user input within the preferences management interface. When users interact with the prefs.asp page to modify system settings or personal configurations, the application fails to properly neutralize potentially malicious input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. This creates an environment where attacker-controlled script code can be executed within the context of authenticated user sessions, effectively bypassing standard security controls. The vulnerability manifests as a classic XSS attack vector, where malicious payloads can be embedded in form fields, URL parameters, or other user-controllable inputs that are then reflected back to users without proper encoding or validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, creating potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks within the AMHS ecosystem. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or execute unauthorized administrative commands within the message handling system. Given that the Telos AMHS handles sensitive automated communications, successful exploitation could lead to interception of confidential messages, disruption of critical communication flows, or unauthorized modification of system configurations. The remote nature of this attack vector means that threat actors can exploit the vulnerability from outside the organization's network perimeter, significantly expanding the attack surface and reducing the effectiveness of traditional network-based security controls.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to Telos Automated Message Handling System version 4.1.5.5 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this XSS vulnerability. System administrators should also implement additional defensive measures including input validation at multiple layers, output encoding for dynamic content generation, and regular security assessments of web applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script injection techniques and T1566 for social engineering attacks that could leverage the XSS vector to escalate privileges within the system. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive penetration testing to identify any similar vulnerabilities in related web applications and establish robust monitoring for suspicious activities that might indicate exploitation attempts.