CVE-2013-3422 in Secure Access Control System
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Administration pages in Cisco Secure Access Control System (ACS) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via an unspecified parameter, aka Bug ID CSCud75165.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3422 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the administration interfaces of Cisco Secure Access Control System versions 5.0 through 5.2. This vulnerability resides in the web-based management console that administrators use to configure and manage network access policies. The flaw specifically affects the administrative pages where users can perform sensitive operations such as user management, policy configuration, and system monitoring. The vulnerability was catalogued under Cisco bug ID CSCud75165 and represents a significant security risk to organizations relying on Cisco ACS for network access control.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs through an unspecified parameter within the administrative web interface that fails to properly validate or sanitize user input before processing. When a remote attacker submits malicious input through this parameter, the system does not adequately filter or escape the data, allowing the injected script to execute within the context of a victim's browser session. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws in web applications, where insufficient input validation creates opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code. The vulnerability's impact is amplified because it affects administrative pages, meaning an attacker who successfully exploits this flaw could potentially gain elevated privileges or access sensitive administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal administrative credentials, or manipulate access control policies. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to the network infrastructure, potentially compromising the entire secure access control system. The administrative nature of the affected pages means that successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of the network access control environment, allowing unauthorized users to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain access to protected network resources. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566.001 for Phishing for Information, as attackers could use the XSS payload to harvest credentials or redirect users to malicious sites.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco, implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious input, and conducting thorough security assessments of administrative interfaces. Network segmentation and least privilege access controls should be enforced to limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of administrative interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging of administrative activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder that administrative interfaces require heightened security scrutiny due to their privileged access capabilities and the potential damage that can result from successful exploitation.