CVE-2020-15033 in NeDi
Summary
by MITRE
NeDi 1.9C is vulnerable to cross-site scripting (XSS) attack. The application allows an attacker to execute arbitrary JavaScript code via the snmpget.php ip parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-15033 affects NeDi version 1.9C, a network discovery and monitoring tool that provides network inventory and status information. This application serves as a critical component in network management environments where administrators rely on its web interface for monitoring network devices and collecting SNMP data. The vulnerability manifests as a cross-site scripting flaw that specifically targets the snmpget.php script, making it particularly dangerous for network administrators who frequently interact with this interface. The affected parameter is the ip parameter within the snmpget.php endpoint, which processes user-supplied input without proper sanitization or validation mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing JavaScript code within the ip parameter of the snmpget.php script. When a victim, typically a network administrator, clicks on this crafted link or navigates to the malicious page while authenticated to the NeDi application, the JavaScript code executes within the victim's browser context. This execution occurs because the application directly incorporates user input into the web response without appropriate encoding or validation, violating fundamental web security principles. The vulnerability is classified as a persistent XSS attack since the malicious code can be stored and executed whenever the vulnerable page is accessed, potentially affecting multiple users who view the compromised content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for network infrastructure management environments. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or privilege escalation within the NeDi application. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it targets a core network monitoring tool where administrators frequently perform sensitive operations and have elevated privileges. The vulnerability enables attackers to establish persistent access to network monitoring systems, potentially allowing them to observe network traffic, manipulate monitoring data, or gain unauthorized access to network devices through the compromised application. This threat is exacerbated by the fact that network administrators often have elevated privileges within these systems, making successful exploitation particularly damaging to overall network security posture.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the NeDi application. The most effective approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input, particularly the ip parameter in snmpget.php, by implementing strict validation that rejects potentially malicious content and encoding output to prevent script execution. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided security patch or upgrade to a patched version of NeDi that addresses this vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the NeDi application to untrusted networks and users. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious activities related to the snmpget.php endpoint, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network management tools. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and represents a critical threat vector that could be exploited by adversaries following ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution within network management contexts.