CVE-2023-6098 in Business Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 11/13/2023
An XSS vulnerability has been discovered in ICS Business Manager affecting version 7.06.0028.7066. A remote attacker could send a specially crafted string exploiting the obdd_act parameter, allowing the attacker to steal an authenticated user's session, and perform actions within the application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2023
The CVE-2023-6098 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in ICS Business Manager version 7.06.0028.7066 that exposes organizations to significant security risks through remote code execution capabilities. This vulnerability specifically targets the obdd_act parameter within the application's input handling mechanisms, creating an attack vector that allows malicious actors to manipulate the system's behavior through crafted payloads. The flaw exists within the application's web interface processing logic where user-supplied input fails to undergo proper sanitization before being rendered back to authenticated users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the ICS Business Manager framework. When the obdd_act parameter receives malicious input, the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute within the context of authenticated sessions, effectively bypassing normal security boundaries. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses severe implications for industrial control systems and business management environments that rely on ICS Business Manager for critical operations. Attackers can leverage this flaw to hijack authenticated sessions, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive operational data, modifying critical business processes, or executing malicious commands within the application's privileges. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not require physical access to the network, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations with distributed or remote operational environments. The session hijacking aspect of this vulnerability enables persistent access to the system, allowing attackers to maintain control over the compromised accounts.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection to encompass potential privilege escalation and data exfiltration scenarios. Once an attacker successfully exploits this XSS flaw, they can manipulate the application's interface to perform actions as authenticated users, potentially accessing restricted functionalities or modifying business-critical data. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script injection, as the malicious payloads can execute within the application context. Organizations utilizing ICS Business Manager should consider implementing comprehensive input validation controls, output encoding mechanisms, and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patch deployment for the affected ICS Business Manager version, implementation of web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads targeting the obdd_act parameter, and enhanced monitoring of application logs for suspicious input patterns. Organizations should also consider deploying additional security controls such as content security policies to prevent unauthorized script execution, implementing proper input sanitization routines, and establishing robust session management practices. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and conducting regular vulnerability assessments, particularly for industrial control systems that may not receive frequent security updates. Security teams should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.