CVE-2021-23889 in ePolicy Orchestrator
Summary
by MITRE • 03/26/2021
Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability in McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator (ePO) prior to 5.10 Update 10 allows ePO administrators to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via multiple parameters where the administrator's entries were not correctly sanitized.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2021
The vulnerability CVE-2021-23889 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator version 5.10 Update 9 and earlier, affecting enterprise security management systems. This vulnerability resides within the administrative interface of ePO, which serves as a central management platform for McAfee security products across organizations. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by administrators, potentially compromising the entire security infrastructure managed by ePO. The vulnerability specifically impacts multiple parameters within the administrative interface where user input is not properly sanitized, creating an attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors with limited access to the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the ePO administrative web interface. When administrators enter data into various form fields or parameters, the system fails to properly escape or validate the input before rendering it in web responses. This creates a persistent XSS vector that can be exploited through carefully crafted payloads injected via multiple parameters. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental web application security weakness that has been documented for decades in the cybersecurity community. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious scripts in the context of the administrator's browser session, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-23889 is severe for organizations relying on McAfee ePO for security management, as it provides attackers with a potential pathway to compromise the entire security infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could execute arbitrary code within the administrator's browser, potentially leading to full system compromise of the ePO server. This attack vector is particularly dangerous because it targets the administrative interface, which typically has elevated privileges and access to critical security configurations. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, where attackers might use this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through compromised administrative sessions. Organizations using ePO for managing endpoint security, policy enforcement, and threat response capabilities face significant risk of operational disruption and security breaches.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the official McAfee patch for ePO 5.10 Update 10, which addresses the input sanitization issues. Network segmentation and monitoring of administrative interfaces can help detect exploitation attempts, while implementing strict input validation policies and web application firewalls can provide additional defense layers. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization in web applications, particularly those handling administrative functions, and serves as a reminder of the need for continuous security assessments and patch management processes. Security teams should also consider implementing privileged access management solutions and regular security audits to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other administrative interfaces within their organization's security infrastructure.