CVE-2023-37520 in HCL BigFix Platform
Summary
by MITRE • 12/22/2023
Unauthenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in BigFix Server version 9.5.12.68, allowing for potential data exfiltration. This XSS vulnerability is in the Gather Status Report, which is served by the BigFix Relay.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2023-37520 represents a critical unauthenticated stored cross-site scripting flaw within the BigFix Server platform version 9.5.12.68. This vulnerability specifically affects the Gather Status Report functionality that is served through the BigFix Relay component, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication credentials. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into the application's response data, which then executes in the context of other users' browsers when they access the affected report functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Gather Status Report processing pipeline. When the BigFix Relay serves reports containing user-supplied data, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as executable script code. This stored XSS condition occurs because the system stores the malicious payload within its database or storage mechanisms, making it persistent across multiple user sessions. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a classic cross-site scripting issue, specifically manifesting as a stored variant where the malicious content is permanently stored on the server and executed whenever the affected page is accessed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates significant potential for data exfiltration and further attack escalation. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can steal session cookies, credentials, or other sensitive information from authenticated users who view the compromised reports. The threat landscape is particularly concerning because the vulnerability affects the relay component, which serves as a critical communication bridge between BigFix clients and the central server infrastructure. This allows attackers to potentially compromise not just individual user sessions but entire client-server communication channels, as demonstrated by the ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-37520 should prioritize immediate patching of the BigFix Server to version 9.5.12.69 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes for the stored XSS vulnerability. Organizations should implement additional defensive measures including web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script payloads, strict content security policies that prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, and regular monitoring of report generation activities for anomalous patterns. Network segmentation can help limit the scope of potential exploitation, while comprehensive user education regarding suspicious report content and phishing awareness can reduce successful attack vectors. Security teams should also consider implementing automated scanning tools that can detect stored XSS vulnerabilities in similar components and establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to address cross-site scripting exploits in enterprise management platforms. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices as outlined in OWASP Top 10 and other security framework guidelines.