CVE-2019-11281 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Pivotal RabbitMQ and RabbitMQ for PCF versions prior to specified versions are vulnerable to a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack, potentially leading to unauthorized access.

Understanding CVE-2019-11281

This CVE involves a security vulnerability in Pivotal RabbitMQ and RabbitMQ for PCF that could allow a remote authenticated attacker to execute a cross-site scripting attack.

What is CVE-2019-11281?

Pivotal RabbitMQ versions earlier than v3.7.18 and RabbitMQ for PCF versions 1.15.x before 1.15.13, 1.16.x before 1.16.6, and 1.17.x before 1.17.3 are affected by a cross-site scripting vulnerability due to inadequate user input sanitization.

The Impact of CVE-2019-11281

The vulnerability could be exploited by a remote authenticated malicious user with administrative privileges to execute a cross-site scripting attack. This could result in unauthorized access to virtual hosts and policy management data.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-11281

This section provides more technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from inadequate sanitization of user input in the virtual host limits page and the federation management UI components.

Affected Systems and Versions

RabbitMQ versions prior to v3.7.18
RabbitMQ for PCF versions 1.15.x before 1.15.13, 1.16.x before 1.16.6, and 1.17.x before 1.17.3

Exploitation Mechanism

A remote authenticated malicious user with administrative privileges can craft a cross-site scripting attack to exploit the vulnerability.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-11281 requires specific actions.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update RabbitMQ to version 3.7.18 or later.
Update RabbitMQ for PCF to the respective secure versions.
Monitor for any unauthorized access or unusual activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update security configurations.
Educate users on safe practices to prevent XSS attacks.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly.
Stay informed about security advisories and updates from the vendor.