CVE-2023-49572 in VX Search Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE • 05/24/2024
A vulnerability has been discovered in VX Search Enterprise affecting version 10.2.14 that could allow an attacker to execute persistent XSS through /setup_odbc in odbc_data_source, odbc_user and odbc_password parameters. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to store malicious JavaScript payloads on the system to be triggered when the page loads.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/28/2025
This vulnerability exists within VX Search Enterprise version 10.2.14 and represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw that can be exploited to establish persistent malicious code execution. The vulnerability specifically targets the /setup_odbc endpoint where parameters odbc_data_source, odbc_user, and odbc_password are processed without adequate input sanitization or output encoding. This creates an environment where attacker-supplied JavaScript code can be stored server-side and subsequently executed whenever authorized users access the affected pages, making it a prime candidate for persistent XSS exploitation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 Cross-site Scripting and CWE-80 Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page. The flaw occurs because the application fails to properly validate and sanitize user input before storing it in the database or rendering it in web responses. When these parameters are submitted through the setup_odbc endpoint, the system does not adequately filter or encode the input data, allowing malicious scripts to be embedded directly into the application's data storage. This creates a persistent threat vector where the stored malicious code executes automatically during normal page rendering operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables attackers to establish long-term presence within the targeted environment. Once exploited, the stored JavaScript payloads can perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation. Authorized users who access pages containing the stored malicious code will unknowingly execute the attacker's JavaScript, potentially compromising their sessions and system access. The persistence aspect means that even if the initial attack vector is closed, the malicious code continues to execute whenever the affected pages are loaded, making detection and remediation more challenging.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including input validation and output encoding for all parameters processed by the setup_odbc endpoint. The application should sanitize all user-supplied data before storage and properly encode all output to prevent script execution. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and monitoring for unusual data submissions to the odbc parameters can help detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of following OWASP Top Ten security practices, particularly those related to input validation and output encoding. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads and ensure regular security assessments of web applications to identify similar persistent XSS vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a code injection technique under T1566, with potential for privilege escalation and lateral movement within the compromised environment.