CVE-2021-35239 in Orion Platform
Summary
by MITRE • 08/31/2021
A security researcher found a user with Orion map manage rights could store XSS through via text box hyperlink.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-35239 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the Orion platform that allows authenticated users with map management privileges to inject malicious scripts through hyperlink text fields. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's handling of user-supplied hyperlink data. The vulnerability specifically affects the Orion map management functionality where users can create or modify hyperlinks that are subsequently rendered to other users within the application interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a user with map management rights creates or modifies a hyperlink in a text box field, embedding malicious javascript code within the hyperlink text. When other users view the map containing this crafted hyperlink, the malicious script executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the victim. The flaw exists because the application fails to properly sanitize or encode user input before rendering it as part of the web page content, creating an environment where attacker-controlled data can be interpreted as executable code.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-35239 extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with a persistent vector for more sophisticated attacks within the Orion environment. An attacker with map management privileges could craft malicious hyperlinks that redirect users to phishing sites, steal authentication tokens, or perform actions such as modifying map data, accessing restricted resources, or even escalating privileges within the application. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system by enabling unauthorized access to sensitive data and potentially compromising the entire application ecosystem. This issue particularly impacts organizations that rely heavily on Orion for network monitoring and mapping where map management privileges are granted to multiple users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the Orion application. The primary defense involves sanitizing all user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages, particularly for hyperlink text fields and other user-editable content. Organizations should implement content security policies that restrict script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection. Additionally, privilege escalation controls should be reviewed to ensure that map management rights are properly restricted to only trusted users. The implementation of web application firewalls and regular security code reviews can help identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 related to spearphishing with malicious attachments or links, emphasizing the need for comprehensive web application security controls.