CVE-2022-0589 in LibreNMS
Summary
by MITRE • 02/15/2022
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - Stored in Packagist librenms/librenms prior to 22.1.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0589 represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw within the Packagist package repository for the librenms/librenms software library. This issue affects versions prior to 22.1.0 and constitutes a significant security weakness that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications where user input is improperly sanitized or validated. The vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user-supplied data that gets stored and subsequently rendered without adequate security measures to prevent script execution.
This stored XSS vulnerability operates through the injection of malicious JavaScript code into the application's database or storage mechanisms where it remains persistent. When other users access pages containing the compromised data, their browsers execute the malicious scripts within the context of their session. The flaw specifically impacts the librenms/librenms library which serves as a network monitoring and management platform, making it particularly concerning for network administrators who rely on this software for infrastructure monitoring. The vulnerability allows attackers to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing unauthorized commands on behalf of legitimate users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the affected system. Network monitoring platforms like LibreNMS are often accessed by administrators with elevated privileges, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous. The stored nature of the XSS means that the malicious code persists even after the initial injection, allowing attackers to maintain access over extended periods. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as the improper handling of input data that allows malicious scripts to be executed in the context of other users' browsers. The attack vector typically involves manipulating input fields, form submissions, or API endpoints where user data is accepted and stored without proper sanitization.
Security practitioners should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to librenms/librenms version 22.1.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the stored XSS vulnerability. Organizations should also implement input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar issues in other components of their network monitoring infrastructure. The mitigation strategy should include regular security assessments of web applications and adherence to secure coding practices that prevent the injection of untrusted data into executable contexts. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to protect against XSS attacks. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software libraries and following secure development practices as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's web application security domains where XSS represents a common technique for initial access and privilege escalation within network environments.