CVE-2018-20171 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability was identified in Nagios XI versions prior to 5.5.8, allowing for XSS attacks due to unfiltered input in a specific script.

Understanding CVE-2018-20171

This CVE involves a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Nagios XI versions before 5.5.8.

What is CVE-2018-20171?

CVE-2018-20171 is a security flaw in Nagios XI that allows attackers to execute malicious scripts in a victim's browser, potentially compromising user data.

The Impact of CVE-2018-20171

The vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access, data theft, and potential manipulation of the affected system.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-20171

This section provides more in-depth technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The XSS vulnerability in Nagios XI versions prior to 5.5.8 is caused by the lack of input filtering in the url parameter of the rss_dashlet/magpierss/scripts/magpie_simple.php script.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Nagios XI
Vendor: Nagios
Versions Affected: All versions prior to 5.5.8

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts through the unfiltered url parameter, potentially leading to XSS attacks.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-20171 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Nagios XI to version 5.5.8 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Implement input validation and output encoding to prevent XSS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to address security vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify and remediate potential weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and patches released by Nagios.
Apply security updates promptly to ensure systems are protected against known vulnerabilities.