CVE-2020-35664 in Cyber Protect
Summary
by MITRE • 02/22/2021
An issue was discovered in Acronis Cyber Protect before 15 Update 1 build 26172. There is cross-site scripting (XSS) in the console.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-35664 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Acronis Cyber Protect software prior to version 15 Update 1 build 26172. This security weakness exists within the web console interface of the cybersecurity solution, which is designed to provide centralized management and monitoring capabilities for backup and recovery operations. The affected system serves as a critical administrative portal where security professionals configure and manage protective measures for enterprise environments, making the presence of XSS vulnerabilities particularly concerning from a threat perspective.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the web console components of Acronis Cyber Protect. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious script code through input fields or parameters that are not properly sanitized before being rendered in the browser context. This allows unauthorized individuals to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' sessions, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized administrative actions. The vulnerability specifically affects the console interface, which is accessible to authenticated users with appropriate privileges, though the attack surface extends to any user who interacts with the compromised web application.
The operational impact of this XSS vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive system configurations. Security administrators who rely on the console for managing backup policies, monitoring system health, and responding to security incidents become vulnerable to manipulation through this vector. The attack could result in data exfiltration, modification of backup schedules, or complete compromise of the protection environment. Given that Acronis Cyber Protect is designed to safeguard enterprise data, the exploitation of this vulnerability could undermine the entire security posture of organizations relying on the platform. The vulnerability also aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages, particularly when considering the execution of malicious JavaScript within user sessions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of security patches provided by Acronis, specifically targeting the 15 Update 1 build 26172 or later versions that address the XSS flaw. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including strict input validation, output encoding, and content security policies to reduce the risk of exploitation. Network segmentation and privileged access controls should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful attacks, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities within the broader attack surface. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and user education programs should be implemented to raise awareness about the risks associated with visiting untrusted web interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security software and implementing robust web application security controls in enterprise cybersecurity environments.