CVE-2010-2987 in Wireless Control System Software
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Cisco Wireless Control System (WCS) 7.x before 7.0.164, as used in Cisco Unified Wireless Network (UWN) Solution 7.x before 7.0.98.0, allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, aka Bug ID CSCtg33854.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2987 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Cisco Wireless Control System version 7.x prior to 7.0.164 and Cisco Unified Wireless Network Solution 7.x prior to 7.0.98.0. This issue falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting and represents a fundamental weakness in input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web-based management interfaces of these wireless networking solutions. The vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated user sessions, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of wireless network management operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors within the web application layer of the Cisco WCS and UWN solutions, which fail to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in web pages. Attackers can leverage this flaw to inject malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of authenticated users who interact with the affected management interfaces. The attack typically involves crafting specially formatted input parameters or data fields that bypass existing validation controls, allowing malicious payloads to be stored or directly executed within the web application context. This vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects the core management interfaces of wireless networks, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate wireless configurations, access sensitive network information, or escalate privileges within the wireless infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-2987 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with potential access to critical wireless network management functions. When exploited, this vulnerability could allow unauthorized individuals to modify wireless controller configurations, manipulate user access controls, or gain insights into wireless network topology and security settings. The attack vector is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where wireless networks serve as critical infrastructure components, as successful exploitation could lead to complete wireless network compromise. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where attackers can execute malicious scripts within the context of legitimate user sessions, potentially leading to further lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of Cisco's official security patches and updates. The mitigation strategy must include not only patch management but also network segmentation and monitoring of web application traffic for suspicious script injection attempts. Security teams should implement proper input validation controls and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other web applications. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in the wireless network infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect critical network management interfaces from remote exploitation attempts.