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Cross-site Scripting occurrences in Simatic Wincc Runtime
A vulnerability has been identified in SIMATIC HMI Comfort Panels 4" - 22" (All versions < V15.1 Update 1), SIMATIC HMI Comfort Outdoor Panels 7" & 15" (All versions < V15.1 Update 1), SIMATIC HMI KTP Mobile Panels KTP400F, KTP700, KTP700F, KTP900 und KTP900F (All versions < V15.1 Update 1), SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Advanced (All versions < V15.1 Update 1), SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Professional (All versions < V15.1 Update 1), SIMATIC WinCC (TIA Portal) (All versions < V15.1 Update 1), SIMATIC HMI Classic Devices (TP/MP/OP/MP Mobile Panel) (All versions). The integrated web server could allow Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks if an attacker is able to modify particular parts of the device configuration via SNMP. The security vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker with network access to the affected system. Successful exploitation requires system privileges and user interaction. An attacker could use the vulnerability to compromise confidentiality and the integrity of the affected system. At the stage of publishing this security advisory no public exploitation is known. (2019-05-14, CVE-2019-6577)
Why Cross-site Scripting can be dangerous
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>