CVE-2019-9725 in JetPort 5601
Summary
by MITRE
The Web manager (aka Commander) on Korenix JetPort 5601 and 5601f devices has Persistent XSS via the Port Alias field under Serial Setting.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9725 represents a critical persistent cross-site scripting flaw within the web management interface of Korenix JetPort 5601 and 5601f network devices. This security weakness resides in the web manager component, commonly referred to as Commander, which serves as the primary administrative interface for configuring and managing these industrial networking appliances. The vulnerability specifically manifests in the Port Alias field located within the Serial Setting configuration section, where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered back to users in subsequent web page displays.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the Port Alias field, which accepts user-supplied data that can contain malicious script code. When an attacker inputs malicious JavaScript code into this field, the device fails to properly escape or filter the input before storing and subsequently displaying it in the web interface. This persistent nature means that the malicious payload remains stored within the device's configuration and executes every time the affected page is loaded, affecting not only the initial attacker but also any legitimate user who accesses the compromised web management interface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without adequate validation or sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within the network infrastructure managed by these devices. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially hijack user sessions, steal administrative credentials, or redirect users to malicious websites. The persistent nature of the XSS vulnerability means that the attack vector remains active even after the initial compromise, creating a long-term threat to network security. This vulnerability particularly affects industrial control systems and network infrastructure where these devices are deployed, potentially compromising the integrity of critical network operations. The attack surface is further expanded because the web management interface is typically accessible from network segments that may contain both authorized administrators and potentially compromised endpoints, making the exploitation more likely.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate input validation and output encoding measures within the web application. Organizations should implement proper sanitization of all user-supplied input, particularly in fields where HTML content is displayed. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper HTML escaping mechanisms would prevent malicious scripts from executing in the browser context. Additionally, network segmentation should be employed to limit access to the web management interface to authorized administrative networks only. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments of industrial control systems should be conducted to identify similar persistent XSS vulnerabilities in other network infrastructure components. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in industrial networking equipment and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.006 for JavaScript execution and T1566 for credential harvesting through web-based attacks. The vulnerability also highlights the necessity of following OWASP Top 10 security guidelines for preventing cross-site scripting attacks in web applications.