CVE-2020-14424 in Cacti
Summary
by MITRE • 11/14/2021
Cacti before 1.2.18 allows remote attackers to trigger XSS via template import for the midwinter theme.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/16/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-14424 affects Cacti versions prior to 1.2.18 and represents a cross-site scripting flaw that can be exploited by remote attackers through the template import functionality when using the midwinter theme. This issue falls under the category of insecure input handling and improper output encoding, which are fundamental security weaknesses that can lead to unauthorized code execution in the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical flaw manifests when Cacti processes template imports, specifically for the midwinter theme, without properly sanitizing or encoding user-supplied data before rendering it in the web interface. Attackers can craft malicious template files containing crafted javascript payloads that execute when the template is imported and subsequently displayed to users. This vulnerability is classified as CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a well-known weakness that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary javascript code in the context of authenticated users' browsers. This can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and potential privilege escalation within the Cacti environment. Since Cacti is commonly used for network monitoring and system administration, compromised users could gain access to sensitive network information and monitoring data. The attack vector requires the victim to import a malicious template file, which could occur through social engineering, compromised software distribution channels, or through legitimate administrative operations if the attacker has already gained some level of access to the system.
The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 - Phishing and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can use the XSS to deliver malicious payloads and execute code within victim browsers. Organizations using Cacti for network monitoring and system administration are particularly at risk since these systems often contain sensitive operational data and may be targeted for privilege escalation attacks. The midwinter theme specifically serves as the attack vector because it likely handles template data in a way that does not properly sanitize user inputs before rendering them in the web interface.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching to Cacti version 1.2.18 or later, which addresses the XSS vulnerability through proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should also implement strict template import policies, including thorough validation of template files before import, and consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious template imports. Additionally, user education and awareness training should emphasize the risks of importing templates from untrusted sources, and administrators should regularly audit template imports and monitor for suspicious activities. Network segmentation and least privilege access controls can further reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation by limiting the scope of what compromised users can access within the Cacti environment.