CVE-2021-21803 in R-SeeNet
Summary
by MITRE • 07/16/2021
This vulnerability is present in device_graph_page.php script, which is a part of the Advantech R-SeeNet web applications. A specially crafted URL by an attacker and visited by a victim can lead to arbitrary JavaScript code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-21803 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Advantech R-SeeNet web application suite, specifically affecting the device_graph_page.php script. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject malicious client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The affected system is part of Advantech's R-SeeNet platform, a network monitoring and management solution commonly deployed in industrial environments for device visualization and control. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the web application's handling of user-supplied data, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted web requests.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker constructs a malicious URL containing specially crafted JavaScript code that gets executed in the context of a victim's browser session. This type of attack leverages the web application's failure to properly sanitize or encode user input before rendering it in the web page output. When a victim visits the maliciously crafted URL, the JavaScript payload is executed within their browser, potentially allowing the attacker to perform actions on behalf of the victim, steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or extract sensitive information from the web application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication or privileged access to exploit, making it a server-side vulnerability that can be triggered through simple web browsing activities.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-21803 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the entire R-SeeNet monitoring environment. In industrial control systems where R-SeeNet is deployed, this vulnerability could allow adversaries to manipulate device monitoring data, potentially leading to incorrect operational decisions or system misconfigurations. The attack vector is particularly dangerous in environments where the web application serves as a central monitoring interface for critical infrastructure, as successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive operational data or even enable further attacks on the underlying industrial network. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Initial Access through Spearphishing Attachment, as attackers could deliver malicious URLs through phishing campaigns targeting system administrators or operators who regularly access the R-SeeNet interface.
Organizations utilizing Advantech R-SeeNet systems should implement immediate mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, including applying the vendor-provided security patches as soon as they become available. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring and filtering malicious requests before they reach the vulnerable application components. Access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the vulnerable web interface to only authorized personnel, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other components of the industrial control system architecture. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation and output encoding practices in web application development, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle to prevent similar issues from occurring in other applications.