CVE-2023-33786 in Netbox
Summary
by MITRE • 05/24/2023
A stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Create Circuit Types (/circuits/circuit-types/) function of Netbox v3.5.1 allows attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML via a crafted payload injected into the Name field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2023
The stored cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-33786 affects Netbox version 3.5.1 and resides within the Create Circuit Types functionality. This flaw exists in the handling of user input within the Name field of circuit type creation forms, creating a persistent security risk that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic stored XSS pattern where malicious input is first stored on the server and then served to other users without proper sanitization or encoding.
This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Netbox application's circuit types management interface. When administrators or users create new circuit types, the application fails to properly sanitize the Name field input before storing it in the database and subsequently rendering it in web pages. The vulnerability specifically impacts the /circuits/circuit-types/ endpoint where user-provided data is processed and displayed without sufficient protection against script injection attacks. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-79: "Cross-site Scripting" vulnerability with specific characteristics of CWE-80: "Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page" and CWE-89: "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command."
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could inject malicious JavaScript code that steals session cookies, redirects users to phishing sites, or modifies the application interface to deceive users. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that the malicious payload remains active until manually removed from the database, potentially affecting multiple users over extended periods. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531: "Account Access Removal" and T1566: "Phishing" as attackers could leverage the XSS to harvest credentials or redirect users to malicious sites.
Organizations utilizing Netbox v3.5.1 should immediately implement mitigations including input sanitization, output encoding, and proper content security policy enforcement. The most effective remediation involves implementing strict input validation that filters or escapes special characters in user-provided data before storage, combined with proper HTML encoding when rendering stored data in web pages. Additionally, implementing a comprehensive content security policy that restricts script execution and enforces secure practices can significantly reduce the impact of such vulnerabilities. Security teams should also conduct regular input validation testing and consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input sanitization in web applications and demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in user input handling can create significant security risks across entire user bases.