CVE-2012-3047 in Scientific Atlanta Dpr362
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the web-wizard setup page on Cisco Scientific Atlanta D20 and D30 cable modems allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2019
The CVE-2012-3047 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the web-wizard setup interface of Cisco Scientific Atlanta D20 and D30 cable modems. This vulnerability exists within the web-based administrative interface that users access to configure their cable modem settings, making it a prime target for remote exploitation. The flaw specifically affects the setup page functionality that handles user input and displays configuration information, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be executed in the context of authenticated users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML code without requiring any authentication or local access to the device, making it highly exploitable in network environments where these modems are accessible from external networks.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the web-wizard setup page of the affected Cisco modems. When users interact with the setup interface and provide input data through various form fields or configuration parameters, the device fails to properly sanitize or escape this input before rendering it back to the user's browser. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that contain script code which gets executed when other users view the affected web page. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the vulnerability description suggest that multiple input points within the setup wizard could be exploited, including but not limited to configuration fields, parameter names, or URL parameters. This lack of specificity indicates a systemic weakness in the input validation mechanisms rather than a single point of failure, which makes the vulnerability more pervasive and difficult to fully address through simple patches.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-3047 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities within the context of the affected modems. Attackers can potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, modify the configuration of the cable modem, or even gain access to sensitive network information that could be used for further attacks. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in corporate or residential environments where these modems are configured with administrative credentials that may be shared or weakly protected. When exploited, this vulnerability can lead to complete compromise of the network access control provided by the modem, allowing attackers to bypass network security measures and potentially gain access to internal network resources. The attack surface is further expanded because many users may not be aware that their modem configuration page is accessible from external networks, making the exploitation more likely in environments where default configurations have not been changed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-3047 should focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations should immediately disable remote access to the modem's web interface when possible, and ensure that any web-based management interfaces are properly secured with strong authentication mechanisms. Network segmentation should be implemented to isolate these devices from critical network segments, and access controls should be enforced to limit who can reach the modem's administrative interface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script execution through web interfaces. Regular security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other network equipment, as this type of flaw often indicates broader security weaknesses in device firmware. Device vendors should also ensure that firmware updates are regularly distributed to address such vulnerabilities, and network administrators should maintain updated inventories of all network devices to identify potentially vulnerable equipment. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in embedded network devices, particularly those with web-based management interfaces that are accessible from untrusted networks.