CVE-2018-20814 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A vulnerability in Psaldownload.cgi in Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) 8.3R2 before 8.3R2 and Pulse Policy Secure (PPS) 5.4RX before 5.4R2 has been discovered, allowing for a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attack.

Understanding CVE-2018-20814

This CVE involves a specific vulnerability in Pulse Secure products that could lead to a security breach.

What is CVE-2018-20814?

CVE-2018-20814 is an XSS vulnerability found in Psaldownload.cgi in Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) 8.3R2 before 8.3R2 and Pulse Policy Secure (PPS) 5.4RX before 5.4R2.

The Impact of CVE-2018-20814

This vulnerability allows for a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attack, potentially enabling malicious actors to execute scripts in the victim's browser, leading to various security risks.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-20814

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

An XSS issue was discovered in Psaldownload.cgi in Pulse Secure PCS 8.3R2 and PPS 5.4RX, excluding PCS 8.1RX or PPS 5.2RX.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected: Pulse Secure Pulse Connect Secure (PCS) 8.3R2 before 8.3R2 and Pulse Policy Secure (PPS) 5.4RX before 5.4R2
Not affected: PCS 8.1RX or PPS 5.2RX

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited through a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attack, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by users.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-20814 requires immediate actions and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Pulse Secure PCS and PPS to versions that address the XSS vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any signs of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement web application firewalls to filter and monitor HTTP traffic for XSS attacks.
Educate users on safe browsing practices to mitigate the risk of XSS vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security updates and patches from Pulse Secure to ensure that known vulnerabilities, including XSS issues, are promptly addressed.