netbox-data-flows Stored XSS Vulnerability in ObjectAlias Names

The netbox-data-flows plugin for NetBox is susceptible to a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability (<=1.5.0). An attacker with authenticated access to create or modify ObjectAlias objects can inject malicious HTML/JavaScript code into the name field of an alias. This injected code is then rendered without proper sanitization within the DataFlow table views. When another user, particularly one with elevated privileges, views a DataFlow that includes the malicious alias, the injected script executes within their browser session. This can lead to session hijacking, unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the victim user, and the potential exfiltration of sensitive data from the NetBox instance. This vulnerability impacts any page rendering DataFlowTable, including the main Data Flow list page and model tabs that reuse DataFlowTable.

Attack Chain

1. Attacker logs into NetBox with valid credentials and permissions to create/edit ObjectAlias objects.
2. Attacker creates a new ObjectAlias object.
3. Within the name field of the ObjectAlias, the attacker injects a malicious JavaScript payload such as <img src=x onerror=alert(document.domain)>.
4. Attacker creates or edits a DataFlow object.
5. The attacker associates the malicious ObjectAlias with either the sources or destinations field of the DataFlow object.
6. The victim user logs into NetBox and navigates to the Data Flow list page or any page rendering the DataFlowTable.
7. The DataFlowTable attempts to render the sources or destinations which contains the malicious ObjectAlias. The object_list_to_string() function in netbox_data_flows/utils/helpers.py generates HTML using the unescaped ObjectAlias.name field.
8. The injected JavaScript within the ObjectAlias.name executes in the victim’s browser, potentially leading to session theft or unauthorized actions.

Impact

This stored XSS vulnerability in netbox-data-flows can affect any authenticated NetBox user who views a page rendering the affected DataFlow table. The impact is amplified when higher-privileged users are targeted. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to steal user sessions, perform privileged actions on behalf of the victim, and exfiltrate sensitive data accessible within NetBox. The vulnerability affects versions 1.5.0 and earlier of the netbox-data-flows plugin.

Recommendation

• Upgrade the netbox-data-flows plugin to a version greater than 1.5.0 to remediate the vulnerability (Affected Packages).
• Deploy the Sigma rule “Detect netbox-data-flows XSS Payload in ObjectAlias Name” to detect attempts to create ObjectAlias objects with malicious payloads in the name field (rules).
• Monitor NetBox logs for suspicious activity related to ObjectAlias creation and modification (logsource).
• Review existing ObjectAlias objects for any potentially malicious code in the name field (ObjectAlias.name).