Cloud Foundation Cross-site Scripting

The vCenter Server contains a reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability due to a lack of input sanitization. An attacker may exploit this issue to execute malicious scripts by tricking a victim into clicking a malicious link. (2021-09-23, CVE-2021-22016)

VMware vRealize Log Insight (8.x prior to 8.4) contains a Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability due to improper user input validation. An attacker with user privileges may be able to inject a malicious payload via the Log Insight UI which would be executed when the victim accesses the shared dashboard link. (2021-08-30, CVE-2021-22021)

Cross site scripting is an attack where a web page executes code that is injected by an adversary. It usually appears, when users input is presented. This attack can be used to impersonate a user, take over control of the session, or even steal API keys.

The attack can be executed e.g. when you application injects the request parameter directly into the HTML code of the page returned to the user:

https://server.com/confirmation?message=Transaction+Complete

what results in:

<span>Confirmation: Transaction Complete</span>

In that case the message can be modified to become a valid Javascript code, e.g.:

https://server.com/confirmation?message=<script>dangerous javascript code here</script>

and it will be executed locally by the user's browser with full access to the user's personal application/browser data:

<span>Confirmation: <script>dangerous javascript code here</script></span>