CVE-2024-38834
📋 TL;DR
VMware Aria Operations contains a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that allows authenticated users with editing access to cloud providers to inject malicious scripts. When other users view the affected content, the scripts execute in their browser context, potentially compromising their sessions or stealing credentials. This affects all VMware Aria Operations deployments where users have cloud provider editing privileges.
💻 Affected Systems
- VMware Aria Operations
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
An attacker with editing privileges could inject malicious scripts that steal administrator credentials, hijack sessions, perform actions as authenticated users, or deploy ransomware through the management interface.
Likely Case
Malicious insider or compromised account injects scripts to steal session cookies and credentials from other administrators, leading to lateral movement within the management infrastructure.
If Mitigated
With proper input validation and output encoding, scripts are treated as data rather than executable code, preventing successful exploitation.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access with editing privileges on cloud providers. The vulnerability is in the web interface where user input isn't properly sanitized.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Check VMware Security Advisory VMSA-2024-0018 for specific patched versions
Vendor Advisory: https://support.broadcom.com/web/ecx/support-content-notification/-/external/content/SecurityAdvisories/0/25199
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Review VMware Security Advisory VMSA-2024-0018. 2. Download the appropriate patch for your VMware Aria Operations version. 3. Apply the patch following VMware's documented procedures. 4. Restart the VMware Aria Operations services as required.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict Cloud Provider Editing Permissions
allLimit the number of users with 'Edit' permission on cloud providers to only those who absolutely require it.
Implement Content Security Policy
allDeploy a strict Content Security Policy (CSP) header to restrict script execution sources.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict input validation and output encoding for all user-controlled data in the application
- Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) with XSS protection rules and monitor for injection attempts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check your VMware Aria Operations version against the affected versions listed in VMware Security Advisory VMSA-2024-0018Check Version:
Check the VMware Aria Operations web interface under Administration → System → About, or use the vRealize Operations Manager APIVerify Fix Applied:
Verify the installed version matches or exceeds the patched version specified in the advisory, then test that user input in cloud provider fields is properly sanitized📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual editing activity on cloud providers
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by successful login and editing activity
- Administrative sessions originating from unexpected locations
Network Indicators:
- Unusual outbound connections from the VMware Aria Operations server
- Traffic patterns suggesting data exfiltration
SIEM Query:
source="vmware-aria-ops" AND (event_type="cloud_provider_edit" OR user_action="modify_provider") | stats count by user, src_ip