CVE-2021-33616 in RSA Archer
Summary
by MITRE • 04/04/2022
RSA Archer 6.x through 6.9 SP1 P4 (6.9.1.4) allows stored XSS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-33616 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within RSA Archer versions 6.x through 6.9 SP1 P4, specifically affecting version 6.9.1.4. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of user input within its web interface, where maliciously crafted content can be persistently stored and subsequently executed in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before it is stored in the application's database and rendered back to users.
The technical implementation of this stored XSS vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious script code within input fields that are subsequently processed and stored by the RSA Archer application. When other users view pages containing this malicious content, their browsers execute the injected scripts within the context of their authenticated sessions. This allows attackers to perform actions on behalf of victims, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or privilege escalation. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks targeting the organization's security posture. An attacker could inject scripts that steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or modify application behavior to exfiltrate sensitive data. Given that RSA Archer is typically used for business process management and risk assessment, the compromise of such a system could lead to exposure of critical business intelligence, regulatory compliance data, and sensitive operational information. The vulnerability affects the application's core functionality as it undermines the trust model between users and the system, potentially allowing unauthorized access to confidential information and business processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-33616 should prioritize immediate patch application from RSA, as the vendor has released updates addressing this specific vulnerability. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation measures including strict sanitization of user inputs, proper output encoding for all dynamic content, and regular security scanning of application components. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, security awareness training for administrators and users can help identify potential social engineering attempts that might leverage this vulnerability, while implementing content security policies can provide an additional layer of protection against script execution in browser contexts.