CVE-2011-3317 in Secure Access Control Server
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Solution Engine in Cisco Secure Access Control Server (ACS) 5.2 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, aka Bug ID CSCtr78192.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-3317 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco Secure Access Control Server version 5.2's Solution Engine component. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically targeting the web interface components that handle user input processing. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the ACS platform's web-based management interface, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified vectors that likely involve manipulation of web form inputs, URL parameters, or HTTP headers within the ACS web interface. Attackers can craft specially crafted payloads that, when executed in the context of a victim's browser, can execute arbitrary JavaScript code or HTML content. This allows for a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious sites, and potential privilege escalation within the affected system. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects the core authentication and authorization infrastructure of the network access control system, potentially compromising the entire security posture of organizations relying on Cisco ACS for network access management.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-3317 extends beyond simple script injection, as it represents a fundamental weakness in the web application security model of Cisco ACS. Organizations using this version of the software face significant risk of unauthorized access to their network resources, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms or manipulate access control policies. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the network or administrative privileges to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where network access control systems serve as critical security infrastructure. This flaw directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566.001 for Phishing, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access and exfiltrate sensitive information from the compromised system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of Cisco Secure Access Control Server to versions that address the identified XSS flaws. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all web applications, particularly those handling user-supplied data within the ACS environment. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit exposure of the affected web interface to trusted administrative networks only. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious web traffic patterns and anomalous user behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution vector necessitates regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in other network infrastructure components. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional defense-in-depth measures against similar XSS attacks targeting their network access control systems.