CVE-2013-3394 in Prime Network Registrar
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the web interface in Cisco Prime Network Registrar 8.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted field, aka Bug ID CSCuh41429.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3394 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco Prime Network Registrar version 8.1 and earlier systems. This web interface vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts by injecting arbitrary web content through carefully crafted input fields. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's user interface components. The vulnerability was catalogued under Bug ID CSCuh41429, highlighting its significance within Cisco's internal tracking systems. This type of vulnerability fundamentally compromises the integrity of the web application's security model by allowing unauthorized code execution in the context of authenticated users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when the web application fails to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied input before rendering it within web pages. Attackers can exploit this weakness by submitting malicious payloads through form fields or parameters that are subsequently displayed without adequate filtering. The vulnerability specifically targets the web interface components of Cisco Prime Network Registrar, which serves as a comprehensive DNS and DHCP management platform. This allows attackers to potentially execute scripts in the victim's browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the network infrastructure. The flaw falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in software applications. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no privileged access to the underlying system, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can interact with the web interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling sophisticated attack chains that could compromise entire network management operations. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to the network registrar system, potentially gaining insights into network topology, DNS records, and DHCP configurations. The compromised system could then serve as a launching point for further attacks against internal network resources, as the web interface likely provides access to critical network management functions. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can undermine trust in the web application's security posture. The attack could result in unauthorized network configuration changes, data exfiltration, or complete compromise of the network management infrastructure. Organizations relying on Cisco Prime Network Registrar for critical network operations face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where network management interfaces are accessible from untrusted networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-3394 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Cisco Prime Network Registrar installations to version 8.2 or later, which includes the necessary security fixes for this vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the web interface, ensuring that only authorized administrative personnel can reach the system. Input validation and output encoding should be strengthened throughout the application to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. Regular security assessments and penetration testing of network management interfaces are essential to identify and remediate similar weaknesses. The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering attacks through malicious web content, and T1071 which addresses application layer protocol usage for command and control communications. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of web interface access and potential injection attempts, while incident response procedures should be updated to address potential XSS-based breaches of network management systems.