CVE-2024-38833 in Aria Operations
Summary
by MITRE • 11/26/2024
VMware Aria Operations contains a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability. A malicious actor with editing access to email templates might inject malicious script leading to stored cross-site scripting in the product VMware Aria Operations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-38833 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within VMware Aria Operations, a comprehensive infrastructure monitoring and analytics platform. This vulnerability specifically affects the email template editing functionality where malicious actors can inject persistent malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the email template processing subsystem, creating a persistent security risk that can affect multiple users simultaneously. The vulnerability exists in the product's web interface where administrators and authorized users can create and modify email notification templates that are subsequently delivered to various stakeholders within the monitored environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows for a malicious actor with legitimate editing privileges to inject malicious JavaScript code into email templates through the web-based interface. When these templates are processed and sent to recipients, the injected scripts execute in the victims' browsers, potentially enabling unauthorized actions such as session hijacking, data exfiltration, or redirection to malicious sites. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious code persists within the application's database and executes every time the affected template is rendered, making it particularly dangerous for environments where email notifications are frequently generated and distributed. This flaw falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and more precisely aligns with CWE-80 which describes stored XSS conditions where malicious input is stored and later executed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates a vector for privilege escalation and lateral movement within the monitored infrastructure. An attacker with editing access could potentially craft malicious templates that steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or execute commands on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where VMware Aria Operations is used for critical infrastructure monitoring, as it could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive monitoring data and potentially compromise the entire monitoring ecosystem. The attack surface is amplified when considering that email notifications often contain critical infrastructure alerts and status updates that users frequently interact with, making the exploitation more likely and potentially more damaging.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-38833 should focus on immediate patching of the affected VMware Aria Operations versions, while implementing additional defensive measures such as input sanitization and output encoding controls. Organizations should enforce the principle of least privilege for email template editing access, ensuring that only trusted administrators can modify notification templates. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring and filtering malicious script payloads. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and input validation testing within web applications, particularly those handling user-generated content. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering through email, and T1059 which describes execution through scripting, demonstrating how stored XSS vulnerabilities can enable broader attack chains within enterprise environments. Security teams should also implement monitoring for suspicious template modifications and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing XSS vulnerabilities in monitoring and alerting systems.