CVE-2023-33788 in Netbox
Summary
by MITRE • 05/24/2023
A stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Create Providers (/circuits/providers/) 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 • 05/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-33788 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within the Netbox network management platform version 3.5.1. This issue specifically affects the Create Providers functionality located at the /circuits/providers/ endpoint, where user input is not properly sanitized before being stored and subsequently rendered in the web interface. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that fail to prevent malicious script execution when legitimate users view the affected provider records.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the Name field of the provider creation form, where attackers can inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that persists in the application's database. When other users navigate to the provider list or view specific provider details, the stored malicious payload executes within their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that the attack vector remains persistent until the malicious content is explicitly removed from the database, making it particularly dangerous for environments where multiple users interact with the platform.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to the Netbox environment through session manipulation and credential harvesting. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content. Organizations using Netbox v3.5.1 face significant risk of unauthorized access to their network infrastructure data, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain insights into network topology, device configurations, and provider relationships that may be used for further attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-33788 should prioritize immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding controls within the Netbox application. The recommended approach includes enforcing strict sanitization of all user input fields, particularly those used in provider creation functions, and implementing proper HTML escaping mechanisms before rendering stored data. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution capabilities and conduct comprehensive input validation across all user-facing application components. Additionally, regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be performed to identify similar issues in other application modules, while maintaining updated threat intelligence to detect potential exploitation attempts. The most effective remediation involves upgrading to Netbox versions that have addressed this vulnerability through proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms.