CVE-2018-5691 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

SonicWall Global Management System (GMS) 8.1 is affected by a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the

/sgms/TreeControl

module, specifically in the

newName

and

Name

values.

Understanding CVE-2018-5691

This CVE entry details a security issue in SonicWall Global Management System (GMS) 8.1 that exposes users to XSS attacks.

What is CVE-2018-5691?

The vulnerability in the

/sgms/TreeControl

module allows malicious actors to execute XSS attacks by manipulating the

newName

and

Name

parameters.

The Impact of CVE-2018-5691

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access, data theft, and potential compromise of the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-5691

SonicWall Global Management System (GMS) 8.1's security flaw is outlined below.

Vulnerability Description

The XSS vulnerability in SonicWall GMS 8.1 arises from inadequate input validation in the

newName

and

Name

fields of the

/sgms/TreeControl

module.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by injecting malicious scripts into the

newName

and

Name

parameters, leading to XSS attacks.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-5691 involves taking immediate and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable or restrict access to the vulnerable

/sgms/TreeControl

module.
Implement input validation mechanisms to sanitize user inputs.
Regularly monitor and audit system logs for any suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities.
Educate users and administrators about safe coding practices and the risks of XSS attacks.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches or updates provided by SonicWall to address the XSS vulnerability in GMS 8.1.