CVE-2023-50378 in Ambari
Summary
by MITRE • 03/01/2024
Lack of proper input validation and constraint enforcement in Apache Ambari prior to 2.7.8
Impact : As it will be stored XSS, Could be exploited to perform unauthorized actions, varying from data access to session hijacking and delivering malicious payloads.
Users are recommended to upgrade to version 2.7.8 which fixes this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2025
Apache Ambari versions prior to 2.7.8 contain a critical vulnerability stemming from inadequate input validation and constraint enforcement mechanisms that create persistent cross-site scripting attack vectors. This weakness allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into web interfaces where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered back to users. The vulnerability exists within the application's data handling processes where input fields, parameters, and user-supplied content are not adequately filtered or escaped, creating a pathway for attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of a victim's browser session. The flaw represents a classic persistent cross-site scripting vulnerability that aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting conditions where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. When exploited, this vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized actions including but not limited to data access, session hijacking, and delivery of malicious payloads that can compromise user sessions and potentially escalate privileges within the Ambari management interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate the Ambari web interface in ways that can compromise the entire cluster management system. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to the Ambari environment, potentially gaining administrative privileges or executing commands on managed cluster nodes. The stored nature of the XSS vulnerability means that malicious payloads can remain active even after the initial injection, continuously affecting any user who accesses the compromised interface. This creates a particularly dangerous scenario where attackers can maintain long-term access to cluster management systems without requiring repeated exploitation attempts, making the vulnerability especially concerning for enterprise environments that rely on Ambari for large-scale cluster monitoring and management.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a significant risk to Apache Ambari deployments that have not been upgraded to version 2.7.8 or later, which includes the necessary patches to address the input validation deficiencies. The mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrade to the patched version, which implements proper input sanitization and constraint enforcement mechanisms that prevent malicious content from being stored and executed within the application's web interface. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls, content security policies, and regular security assessments of their Ambari installations to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and the potential for seemingly minor security gaps to create significant risks in management and monitoring systems. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for credential access, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the threat. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar input validation weaknesses in other components of their infrastructure that could provide similar attack vectors for persistent cross-site scripting attacks.