CVE-2022-2032 in FMS
Summary
by MITRE • 07/25/2022
In Pandora FMS v7.0NG.761 and below, in the file manager section, the dirname parameter is vulnerable to a Stored Cross Site-Scripting. This vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker with administrator privileges logged in the system.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2032 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within the Pandora FMS monitoring platform version 7.0NG.761 and earlier releases. This security weakness specifically manifests in the file manager section of the application where the dirname parameter fails to properly sanitize user input, creating an avenue for malicious code injection. The vulnerability requires an attacker to possess administrative privileges within the system to exploit it effectively, making it particularly concerning for organizations that maintain administrative access controls. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious scripts are permanently saved on the server and executed whenever affected pages are accessed by legitimate users, including administrators who may not be aware of the compromised state.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the file manager component of Pandora FMS. When administrators interact with the file management functionality and provide malicious input through the dirname parameter, the application fails to properly escape or filter the supplied data before storing it within the system's database or configuration files. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that persists across user sessions and can be executed in the context of other users' browsers. The flaw aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and demonstrates how improper sanitization of user-supplied data can lead to persistent security issues. The attack vector requires an authenticated administrative session, which means that the vulnerability cannot be exploited by external attackers without first compromising administrative credentials, but once achieved, it can cause significant damage to the system's integrity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges, access sensitive system information, and potentially compromise the entire monitoring infrastructure. Administrators who view the file manager section may unknowingly execute malicious scripts that could steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or establish backdoor access to the system. The persistent nature of stored XSS makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over extended periods, potentially going undetected for months. This type of vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering through malicious file delivery, and T1071.004, covering application layer protocol usage for command and control communications. Organizations using Pandora FMS versions prior to the patched release face significant risk of unauthorized access and data compromise, especially in environments where administrative accounts are frequently used for system maintenance and configuration tasks.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest patched version of Pandora FMS where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output encoding. The fix typically involves implementing comprehensive validation of the dirname parameter to ensure that all potentially malicious characters and script tags are properly escaped or removed before processing. Security measures should also include enhanced monitoring of administrative sessions and regular security audits of file management components. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious input patterns, restricting administrative privileges to only essential personnel, and conducting regular security training for system administrators. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts even if the vulnerability is not fully patched. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and the potential for authenticated attacks to cause significant damage to enterprise security infrastructure.