# CVE-2018-6958: Cross-site scripting in vRealize Automation

> A DOM-based XSS vulnerability in VMware vRealize Automation allows attackers to compromise user workstations via malicious scripts.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.1 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 13 Apr 2018
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-hvxm-j3vp-wx4q

## What is CVE-2018-6958?

CVE-2018-6958 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in VMware vRealize Automation, published on 13 Apr 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

VMware vRealize Automation (vRA) prior to 7.3.1 contains a vulnerability that may allow for a DOM-based cross-site scripting (XSS) attack. Exploitation of this issue may lead to the compromise of the vRA user's workstation.

Weakness: CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-6958?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Vmware Vrealize Automation.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-6958?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-6958 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-6958 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-6958 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in VMware vRealize Automation

- [CVE-2018-6959](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6959/): Auth bypass in vRealize Automation (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-4947](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-4947/): Deserialization in vRealize Automation (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-5336](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-5336/): VMware vRealize Automation 7.0.x before 7.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors. (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-7460](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7460/): XML external entity in n/a (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2023-20855](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-20855/): XML external entity in VMware vRealize Orchestrator, VMware vRealize Automation, VMware Cloud Foundation (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-6958 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-6958 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in VMware vRealize Automation, published on 13 Apr 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-6958 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: VMware vRealize Automation. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6958/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6958/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-6958
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-6958
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-6958

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6958/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.