CVE-2023-45992 in CloudPath
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Cross Site Scripting vulnerability in Ruckus Wireless (CommScope) Ruckus CloudPath v.5.12.54414 allows a remote attacker to escalate privileges via a crafted script to the macaddress parameter in the onboarding portal.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-45992 represents a critical cross site scripting flaw within Ruckus Wireless CloudPath version 5.12.54414 that enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts against authenticated users. This vulnerability specifically affects the onboarding portal functionality where user input is improperly sanitized before being processed and rendered back to the browser. The flaw exists in how the system handles the macaddress parameter, which serves as an entry point for attackers to inject malicious code that can be executed in the context of other users' sessions.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross Site Scripting, which is classified as a fundamental web application security weakness that allows attackers to inject client-side scripts into web applications. The security implications extend beyond simple XSS as the vulnerability permits privilege escalation, meaning that an attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially gain elevated access rights within the wireless network management system. The attack vector requires a remote attacker to craft a malicious script and submit it through the macaddress parameter, which then gets processed without proper input validation or output encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on Ruckus CloudPath for wireless network management and device onboarding. An attacker could exploit this weakness to hijack user sessions, access sensitive network configuration data, or potentially gain unauthorized control over wireless access points. The onboarding portal typically serves as a critical interface for network administrators to register and configure new wireless devices, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access within the network infrastructure. The privilege escalation capability means that even if an attacker initially gains access as a standard user, they could potentially elevate their privileges to administrative levels.
The attack scenario involves an attacker crafting a malicious payload containing script code that is submitted through the macaddress parameter during device onboarding. When the system processes this input without proper sanitization, the malicious code gets stored and subsequently executed in the browser context of authenticated users who view the affected pages. This creates a persistent threat where legitimate users may unknowingly execute the attacker's code when interacting with the onboarding portal. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core administrative functionality of the system, potentially allowing attackers to modify device configurations, access network credentials, or manipulate the wireless infrastructure's operational parameters.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including input validation and output encoding controls to prevent malicious scripts from being processed through the macaddress parameter. The system should enforce strict sanitization of all user inputs, particularly those used in dynamic content generation. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual onboarding activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and privilege management within the onboarding portal can limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Security patches from Ruckus Wireless should be applied as soon as they become available, and organizations should consider conducting thorough security assessments of their wireless network management systems to identify similar vulnerabilities in related components. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding as fundamental security controls that should be implemented throughout all web application interfaces, particularly those handling administrative functions and device management operations.