CVE-2018-20725 : What You Need to Know

Cacti versions prior to 1.2.0 are vulnerable to a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack due to improper handling of characters in the Graph Vertical Label.

Understanding CVE-2018-20725

This CVE identifies a specific vulnerability in Cacti that allows for XSS attacks.

What is CVE-2018-20725?

A vulnerability in Cacti versions before 1.2.0, particularly in the graph_templates.php file, enables attackers to execute XSS attacks by exploiting the lack of proper character escaping in the Graph Vertical Label.

The Impact of CVE-2018-20725

This vulnerability could lead to malicious actors injecting and executing arbitrary scripts in the context of an unsuspecting user's web browser, potentially compromising sensitive data or performing unauthorized actions.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-20725

Cacti's vulnerability to XSS attacks due to inadequate character escaping.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from the omission of proper escaping of unintended characters in the Graph Vertical Label within Cacti versions prior to 1.2.0.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Cacti
Vendor: N/A
Versions Affected: All versions before 1.2.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts into the Graph Vertical Label, which are then executed in the context of the user's browser.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to address and prevent the CVE-2018-20725 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Cacti to version 1.2.0 or later to mitigate the XSS vulnerability.
Regularly monitor for security advisories and updates from Cacti.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement input validation and output encoding to prevent XSS attacks.
Conduct regular security assessments and audits of web applications.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Cacti to address security vulnerabilities promptly.