CVE-2020-35206 in Policy Authority
Summary
by MITRE • 01/11/2021
** UNSUPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED ** Reflected XSS in Web Compliance Manager in Quest Policy Authority version 8.1.2.200 allows attackers to inject malicious code into the browser via a specially crafted link to the cConn.jsp file via the ur parameter. NOTE: This vulnerability only affects products that are no longer supported by the maintainer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-35206 represents a reflected cross-site scripting flaw within Quest Policy Authority version 8.1.2.200's Web Compliance Manager component. This security weakness specifically manifests in the cConn.jsp file where the ur parameter serves as an injection vector for malicious code execution. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as a critical web application security flaw that enables attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that malicious payloads are reflected back to users through web application responses rather than being stored on the server, making it particularly dangerous for targeted attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the web application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input received through the ur parameter in the cConn.jsp file. When an attacker crafts a malicious link containing specially formatted script code within the ur parameter, the application processes this input without adequate sanitization mechanisms. The malicious script then gets executed within the victim's browser context when they click the crafted link, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions, or redirect users to malicious websites. This vulnerability demonstrates a classic input validation failure that violates fundamental web security principles and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers social engineering via spearphishing with links.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it represents a significant risk to organizational security infrastructure. Attackers could leverage this flaw to establish persistent access to compliance management systems, potentially compromising sensitive regulatory data and audit trails that organizations rely upon for compliance verification. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill, making it attractive to threat actors seeking to quickly compromise web applications. Organizations using unsupported software versions face additional risk as they cannot receive security updates or patches to address such vulnerabilities, leaving them exposed to potential exploitation by malicious actors who may actively seek out known vulnerabilities in outdated systems.
Given that this vulnerability affects a product no longer supported by the maintainer, the recommended mitigation strategies focus on immediate remediation measures. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to supported versions of Quest Policy Authority or implementing network-level protections such as web application firewalls to block malicious requests containing suspicious input patterns. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potential entry points within their compliance management infrastructure. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining current software support agreements and implementing robust patch management processes to prevent similar issues in the future. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous traffic patterns associated with XSS attack attempts, while user education programs should emphasize the dangers of clicking untrusted links that may contain malicious payloads designed to exploit such vulnerabilities.