CVE-2023-23548 in Checkmk
Summary
by MITRE • 08/01/2023
Reflected XSS in business intelligence in Checkmk <2.2.0p8, <2.1.0p32, <2.0.0p38, <=1.6.0p30.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2023
This vulnerability represents a reflected cross-site scripting flaw within Checkmk's business intelligence components affecting multiple version ranges including 2.2.0p7 and earlier, 2.1.0p31 and earlier, 2.0.0p37 and earlier, and 1.6.0p30 and earlier versions. The vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input before reflecting it back in HTTP responses, creating an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. This type of weakness falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability.
The technical implementation involves the business intelligence modules within Checkmk not adequately validating or escaping user-supplied parameters that are subsequently rendered in web responses without proper sanitization. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when clicked by victims, will execute in the victim's browser context with the privileges of the authenticated user. This creates a significant risk for organizations using Checkmk's monitoring and business intelligence features since successful exploitation could allow attackers to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious sites.
The operational impact extends beyond simple script execution as this vulnerability can enable more sophisticated attacks within the context of the monitored environment. Attackers could leverage this weakness to access sensitive monitoring data, manipulate business intelligence reports, or establish persistent access through stolen authentication tokens. The attack surface is particularly concerning for enterprise environments where Checkmk serves as a critical monitoring platform and business intelligence tool. Organizations may experience unauthorized data access, potential system compromise, and loss of trust in their monitoring infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected versions to the latest stable releases which contain proper input validation and output sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation across all user-facing parameters and ensure proper escaping of dynamic content before rendering in web responses. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection while monitoring for suspicious traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers Phishing for Information through malicious links, making it a critical target for both defensive and offensive security teams to address promptly.