CVE-2023-3010 in WorldMap Panel Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Grafana is an open-source platform for monitoring and observability. The WorldMap panel plugin, versions before 1.0.4 contains a DOM XSS vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2023
The Grafana WorldMap panel plugin vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting threat that affects organizations relying on geographic data visualization within their monitoring infrastructure. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to 1.0.4 of the WorldMap plugin, which is a popular extension for Grafana's open-source observability platform. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the plugin's handling of user-provided data, creating an environment where malicious actors can inject malicious scripts into the application's DOM structure. The WorldMap plugin specifically processes geographic coordinates and map-related parameters that users might input through various interfaces, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit the broader Grafana ecosystem.
The technical flaw manifests as a DOM-based cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows attackers to execute malicious JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session. This occurs when user-supplied parameters containing unescaped HTML or JavaScript content are directly rendered into the page's DOM without proper sanitization. The vulnerability leverages the plugin's rendering mechanism to inject malicious payloads that can persist across user sessions and potentially escalate to more severe attacks. According to CWE-79, this vulnerability falls under the category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically DOM-based XSS, where the attack vector originates from client-side manipulation of the document object model rather than server-side injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive authentication tokens, and potentially gain unauthorized access to monitoring data. Organizations using Grafana with the affected WorldMap plugin face risks of data exfiltration, where attackers can capture user credentials, API keys, and other sensitive information transmitted through the monitoring platform. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Grafana is widely deployed in enterprise environments where it often serves as a central hub for critical infrastructure monitoring, making the potential for lateral movement and privilege escalation significant. This vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious map parameters, user profile manipulation, or even social engineering campaigns targeting administrators who might unknowingly interact with compromised map data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the WorldMap plugin to version 1.0.4 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of user interactions with the WorldMap plugin and establish strict access controls to limit who can modify map configurations. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by filtering malicious requests before they reach the vulnerable plugin. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566 - Phishing and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, highlighting the need for both defensive measures and user awareness training. Regular security assessments of Grafana plugins and continuous monitoring of plugin repositories for security updates should become standard practice for organizations maintaining observability platforms. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and strict input validation at multiple layers can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation even if other mitigations fail.