CVE-2024-2835 in ArcSight Enterprise Security Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 05/20/2024
A Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability has been identified in OpenText ArcSight Enterprise Security Manager and ArcSight Platform. The vulnerability could be remotely exploited.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2025
The stored cross-site scripting vulnerability in OpenText ArcSight Enterprise Security Manager and ArcSight Platform represents a critical security flaw that allows remote attackers to inject malicious scripts into web applications. This vulnerability specifically affects the way the system handles user input within stored data, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and data integrity. The flaw exists in the web application's processing of user-supplied data that gets stored and later rendered without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms. According to CWE-079, this vulnerability falls under the category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is one of the most prevalent web application security flaws identified by the CWE project. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it enables remote exploitation, meaning adversaries can leverage this weakness from outside the network perimeter without requiring physical access or elevated privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the ArcSight platform's web interface components. When legitimate users submit data through web forms or API endpoints, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as executable script code by web browsers. This allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript payloads that persist in the application's database or storage mechanisms. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that once the malicious script is injected, it will execute automatically whenever authorized users access the affected pages, making it particularly dangerous for security monitoring environments where administrators frequently access dashboards and reports. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique under T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it leverages JavaScript execution capabilities to compromise the target environment. The vulnerability affects both the Enterprise Security Manager and the broader ArcSight Platform, indicating a systemic issue within the application's architecture rather than isolated component failure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it can enable attackers to manipulate security events, alter log data, and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive security information. In a security monitoring environment like ArcSight, where the platform serves as a central hub for threat detection and incident response, compromising this system could provide attackers with comprehensive visibility into network security events and potentially allow them to cover their tracks by modifying or deleting security logs. The remote exploitation capability means that threat actors can target this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet, making it particularly attractive for automated scanning and exploitation campaigns. Organizations relying on ArcSight for security operations may experience significant disruption if attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability, as it could compromise the integrity of security monitoring and incident response processes. The vulnerability also presents a risk to data confidentiality and integrity, as attackers could potentially exfiltrate sensitive security information or inject false security events to confuse security operations teams. Furthermore, the persistent nature of stored XSS means that the malicious scripts could remain active for extended periods, providing attackers with continuous access to compromised systems.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, including applying the vendor-provided security patches as soon as they become available. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers. Regular input validation and output encoding practices should be reviewed and enhanced throughout the application architecture, particularly in areas where user-supplied data is processed and stored. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual script execution patterns or unauthorized modifications to stored data, and incident response procedures should be updated to address potential XSS-related compromises. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in other applications within the organization's infrastructure. Additionally, implementing proper security awareness training for administrators can help prevent social engineering attacks that might exploit this vulnerability, as attackers may attempt to trick users into executing malicious scripts through phishing campaigns or other deceptive means. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched applications to ensure that the XSS vulnerability has been properly addressed without introducing new security issues or breaking existing functionality.