CVE-2020-3975 in App Volumes
Summary
by MITRE
VMware App Volumes 2.x prior to 2.18.6 and VMware App Volumes 4 prior to 2006 contain a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability. A malicious actor with access to create and edit applications or create storage groups, may be able to inject malicious script which will be executed by a victim's browser when viewing.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-3975 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within VMware App Volumes software versions 2.x prior to 2.18.6 and version 4 prior to 2006. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input within the web interface, specifically affecting the management of applications and storage groups. The flaw allows attackers with legitimate access privileges to manipulate the system by injecting malicious scripts that persist within the application's data storage. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-controllable data before it is rendered in web pages. This stored XSS vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly sanitized before being included in web pages served to other users. The attack vector requires an attacker to possess legitimate credentials with permissions to create or edit applications and storage groups, making this vulnerability particularly concerning in environments where privilege escalation or insider threats are possible.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to potentially hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, or redirect victims to malicious websites. When a victim browser loads pages containing the stored malicious script, the code executes in the context of the victim's session, potentially allowing for complete compromise of the user's access to the App Volumes management interface. The attack can be particularly insidious because it leverages legitimate administrative privileges, making it difficult to detect through standard network monitoring. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to the technique T1566.001 - Phishing for Information, as attackers can craft malicious payloads that appear legitimate within the App Volumes interface. The vulnerability also aligns with T1071.004 - Application Layer Protocol: DNS, as the malicious scripts could potentially be used to exfiltrate data through DNS tunneling techniques. The persistence of the stored script means that victims need not actively interact with the malicious content to be compromised, as the script executes automatically whenever the affected page is loaded.
Organizations utilizing VMware App Volumes software must implement immediate remediation measures to address this vulnerability. The primary mitigation strategy involves upgrading to VMware App Volumes versions 2.18.6 or 2006 and later, which contain the necessary patches to prevent the injection of malicious scripts. Additionally, administrators should implement strict input validation controls and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application interface to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging. Network segmentation and privilege access controls should be reviewed to limit the potential impact of compromised accounts, as the vulnerability requires legitimate access to create or edit applications and storage groups. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous activity in application creation and modification processes, particularly when suspicious script content is introduced. The vulnerability also necessitates a review of the principle of least privilege, ensuring that administrative accounts have only the minimum permissions required for their specific functions. Regular security assessments should be conducted to identify potential input validation gaps in web applications, and automated security scanning tools should be employed to detect similar stored XSS vulnerabilities in other enterprise applications. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in application functionality while maintaining the security enhancements necessary to protect against this specific threat vector.