CVE-2023-33792 in Netbox
Summary
by MITRE • 05/24/2023
A stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Create Site Groups (/dcim/site-groups/) 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-2023-33792 exists within the Netbox network management platform version 3.5.1, specifically affecting the Create Site Groups functionality within the dcim/site-groups/ endpoint. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into the application's user interface through the Name field parameter. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before rendering it within the web interface. The vulnerability is classified as a stored XSS attack because the malicious payload is permanently stored on the server and subsequently executed whenever the affected page is accessed by authenticated users. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principles outlined in CWE-79, which addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper sanitization or escaping mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user credentials, and potentially escalate privileges within the Netbox environment. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that appear legitimate to users, making the attack vector particularly dangerous in enterprise network management contexts where Netbox is used to manage critical infrastructure. The vulnerability affects all users who have access to the site groups creation functionality, potentially compromising the integrity of network topology data and system configurations. According to ATT&CK framework category T1531, this vulnerability enables adversaries to use compromised credentials for further attacks, while T1203 covers the potential for credential theft through malicious script execution. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that even users who do not actively interact with the affected functionality can be compromised when they view the maliciously crafted site group names, creating a persistent threat vector that remains active until the payload is removed from the system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-33792 should prioritize immediate patching of the Netbox application to version 3.5.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the XSS vulnerability. Organizations should implement input validation controls that sanitize all user-supplied data before processing, specifically ensuring that the Name field in site groups does not accept potentially malicious content. The implementation of Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed within the application. Network administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious payloads attempting to exploit this vulnerability. Security monitoring should include regular scanning for stored XSS vulnerabilities across all application components, particularly focusing on areas where user input is directly rendered in web interfaces. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and ISO/IEC 27001 security standards, which emphasize the need for proper input validation, output encoding, and comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle. Organizations should also establish incident response procedures specifically designed to handle XSS vulnerabilities, including user notification protocols when malicious payloads are detected in the system.