CVE-2020-15035 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 Monitoring-Map.php hde parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-15035 affects NeDi version 1.9C, a network monitoring and discovery tool that provides network mapping and device inventory capabilities. This particular weakness represents a classic cross-site scripting vulnerability that enables malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session. The specific vector of attack targets the Monitoring-Map.php script where the hde parameter fails to properly sanitize user input, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by unauthorized parties to compromise the application's security posture.
The technical flaw manifests in the insufficient validation and sanitization of the hde parameter within the Monitoring-Map.php endpoint. When user-supplied data is directly incorporated into dynamic web content without proper encoding or filtering mechanisms, it creates an environment where malicious JavaScript payloads can be executed. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The vulnerability classification indicates that the application does not adequately filter or escape user-controllable input before rendering it in web pages, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a variety of malicious activities within the compromised environment. An attacker could potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, deface web pages, or even execute more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft or privilege escalation within the network monitoring context. Given that NeDi serves as a network monitoring tool, successful exploitation could provide attackers with insights into network topology, device configurations, and potentially sensitive network information that could be leveraged for further attacks within the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability represents a significant risk to network security monitoring processes and could undermine the integrity of the entire network visibility system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-15035 should prioritize immediate input validation and output encoding measures within the affected application. The most effective approach involves implementing proper parameter sanitization on the hde parameter within Monitoring-Map.php, ensuring all user input is validated against expected formats and properly escaped before being rendered in web responses. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution sources and reduce the impact of successful XSS attacks. Additionally, regular security updates and patch management processes should be enforced to address similar vulnerabilities in other components of the network monitoring infrastructure. The remediation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566 for credential access through web application vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for comprehensive web application security controls.