CVE-2023-44315 in SINEC NMS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
A vulnerability has been identified in SINEC NMS (All versions < V2.0). The affected application improperly sanitizes certain SNMP configuration data retrieved from monitored devices. An attacker with access to a monitored device could prepare a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) attack that may lead to unintentional modification of application data by legitimate users.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2023-44315 affects SINEC NMS version 1.x and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in network management systems that handle SNMP configuration data. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's data processing pipeline, specifically when handling information retrieved from monitored network devices through SNMP protocols. The vulnerability exists in the application's user interface and data storage components where unfiltered SNMP responses are directly processed and displayed without proper security sanitization measures.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the application's failure to properly sanitize SNMP configuration parameters that may contain malicious script content. When monitored devices return SNMP data containing specially crafted payloads, these inputs are not adequately filtered or escaped before being stored in the application's database or rendered in user interfaces. This creates a persistent cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code into the application's data flow. The vulnerability is classified as a stored XSS issue under CWE-079, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it particularly dangerous as the malicious content persists and affects all users who interact with the compromised data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or unauthorized access, as it can lead to unauthorized modification of legitimate application data through social engineering and user interaction attacks. An attacker who gains access to a monitored device can craft malicious SNMP responses that, when processed by the vulnerable SINEC NMS application, create persistent XSS payloads. These payloads can execute in the context of legitimate users' browsers, potentially enabling attackers to modify application configuration, access sensitive data, or perform unauthorized administrative actions. The attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments and T1059.001 for command and control through script-based attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data handling pipeline. Organizations should immediately upgrade to SINEC NMS version 2.0 or later, which includes proper XSS prevention measures and enhanced SNMP data validation. Additionally, network administrators should implement strict access controls for monitored devices, deploy network segmentation to limit device access, and establish regular security audits of SNMP configurations. The remediation process should include thorough input validation of all SNMP responses, implementation of Content Security Policy headers, and regular security testing of the application's data processing components to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future.