CVE-2023-4982 in librenms
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2023
Cross-site Scripting (XSS) - Stored in GitHub repository librenms/librenms prior to 23.9.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2026
Cross-site scripting vulnerabilities represent one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws, with stored XSS variants posing particularly severe risks due to their persistent nature and potential for widespread impact. The vulnerability identified in the librenms/librenms repository affects versions prior to 23.9.0 and falls under the CWE-79 category, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. This particular implementation allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that are permanently stored within the application's database or storage systems, making the vulnerability particularly insidious as it can affect multiple users over extended periods without requiring repeated exploitation attempts.
The technical flaw manifests when user-supplied input containing malicious script code is not properly sanitized or encoded before being stored and subsequently rendered in web pages. In the context of librenms, which is a network monitoring and management tool built on web technologies, this vulnerability likely occurs in areas where users can input device names, descriptions, or other configurable parameters that are later displayed in web interfaces. When the application retrieves and displays this stored data without adequate output encoding, malicious scripts embedded within the input can execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially stealing session cookies, performing unauthorized actions, or redirecting users to malicious sites. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious code persists in the application's data stores and executes whenever affected pages are accessed, making it particularly dangerous for administrative interfaces where privileged users might be targeted.
The operational impact of this stored XSS vulnerability in librenms extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and compromise entire network monitoring infrastructures. Network administrators who regularly interact with the librenms interface become prime targets for exploitation, as successful attacks could allow adversaries to access sensitive network data, manipulate monitoring configurations, or even execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that librenms is commonly deployed in enterprise environments where it serves as a critical monitoring tool for network infrastructure, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking persistent access to network resources. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged in conjunction with other attack vectors to create more sophisticated compromise scenarios, potentially leading to full system compromise or data exfiltration.
Mitigation strategies for this stored XSS vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the application's data flow. The most effective approach involves adopting the principle of defense in depth, ensuring that all user-supplied input is properly validated against expected formats and that all output is encoded according to the context in which it will be rendered. For web applications, this typically means implementing context-specific encoding such as HTML encoding for display contexts, JavaScript encoding for script contexts, and URL encoding for URL contexts. The fix should also include proper parameter validation, implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, and ensuring that the application follows secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and related security standards. Organizations should also consider implementing automated security scanning tools and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in their codebases, while also ensuring that all systems are promptly updated to the patched version 23.9.0 or later to eliminate the risk of exploitation.