CVE-2020-15036 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 Topology-Linked.php dv parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-15036 affects NeDi 1.9C, a network discovery and monitoring tool that provides topology visualization and network management capabilities. This application serves as a critical component in network infrastructure monitoring, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise network visibility and security. The vulnerability manifests as a cross-site scripting flaw that specifically impacts the Topology-Linked.php script, which is responsible for rendering network topology views and handling user input for device visualization.
The technical flaw resides in the improper sanitization of the dv parameter within the Topology-Linked.php script. When user input is directly incorporated into the web page output without adequate validation or encoding, it creates an avenue for malicious JavaScript code execution. This represents a classic reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability where an attacker can craft a malicious URL containing JavaScript payload in the dv parameter, which gets executed when victims navigate to the compromised page. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as the failure to properly validate or encode user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive network information, or redirect users to malicious sites. In a network monitoring context, this could enable attackers to access network topology data, device credentials, or other sensitive information that NeDi collects and displays. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages the application's legitimate topology visualization functionality, making it more difficult for users to identify malicious activity. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566 (Phishing) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) techniques, as attackers can use the XSS to deliver malicious payloads and execute commands in the victim's browser context.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate input validation and output encoding practices. The most effective approach involves implementing strict parameter validation for the dv parameter in Topology-Linked.php, ensuring all user input is properly sanitized before being rendered in the web interface. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against malicious script execution. Network administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious requests containing XSS payloads. Regular security updates and patches should be applied to ensure the application remains protected against known vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include comprehensive code review of all input handling mechanisms within the application to identify and address similar issues that may exist in other components, as this vulnerability demonstrates a potential pattern of insufficient input validation across the application codebase.