Nginx Virtual Host Traffic Status Module Cross-Site Scripting Scanner

Nginx Virtual Host Traffic Status Module is a module used within the Nginx web server environment. It is primarily utilized by web administrators to monitor the traffic and status of various virtual hosts configured on an Nginx server. The module provides a way to collect comprehensive data about HTTP traffic status, server activity, and other statistical information important for performance analysis and load optimization. Its extensive data collection capabilities make it a valuable tool for ensuring efficient server management and facilitating data-driven decision-making in operational settings.

The cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in this module allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. This exploitation technique can be used to execute arbitrary script code in a user's browser, leading to potential theft of cookie-based authentication credentials. The vulnerability poses substantial security threats as it enables attackers to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users. Unchecked, this flaw can facilitate other attacks such as session hijacking and cross-site request forgery. Ensuring this vulnerability is addressed is critical to maintaining robust web security.

The vulnerability specifically involves the vulnerable injection of scripts into the HTTP traffic data displayed via the module. The possible unvalidated user input points include parameters that are directly echoed back in the HTML content without proper encoding or escaping. Such flaws may be exploited when malformed inputs containing script tags are processed and rendered by the web application's front end. The provided HTTP GET requests in the example illustrate how an attacker might craft URLs designed to trigger execution of injected scripts through the server's response. The vulnerable endpoints and unsanitized parameters need to be precisely identified and mitigated to resolve this issue.

When this cross-site scripting vulnerability is exploited, malicious actors can execute scripts that operate under the guise of legitimate users. Possible effects include theft of cookies, enabling unauthorized access or actions, and redirecting users to potentially harmful websites. This can lead to a loss of trust, potential data breaches, and compromising of user accounts. Organization handling of sensitive data may suffer brand and financial damage due to unauthorized transactions or exposure of private user information.

REFERENCES

• https://github.com/vozlt/nginx-module-vts