CVE-2013-5502 in MediaSense
Summary
by MITRE
The web interface in Cisco MediaSense does not properly protect the client-server communication channel, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive query string or cookie information via unspecified vectors, aka Bug ID CSCuj23344.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5502 affects Cisco MediaSense web interface, a component designed for network media analysis and monitoring within enterprise environments. This flaw represents a critical weakness in the application's security architecture, specifically concerning how it handles client-server communication channels. The vulnerability stems from insufficient protection mechanisms that fail to adequately secure the transmission of sensitive data between users and the MediaSense server, creating an exploitable condition that could compromise network monitoring operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability manifests through inadequate encryption or authentication mechanisms in the web interface's communication protocols. Attackers can leverage unspecified vectors to intercept and extract sensitive information from query strings or cookies transmitted during client-server interactions. This weakness directly violates fundamental security principles for web applications, particularly concerning data confidentiality and integrity during transmission. The vulnerability allows remote threat actors to potentially access sensitive operational data, user credentials, or system configuration details that should remain protected within the secure communication channel.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it could enable attackers to gain deeper insights into network infrastructure operations and potentially escalate their access privileges. Cisco MediaSense systems are typically deployed in enterprise environments where they monitor and analyze network traffic for security and performance optimization purposes. When attackers can extract sensitive query parameters or cookie information, they may be able to reconstruct session information, impersonate legitimate users, or discover system configurations that could facilitate further attacks. This vulnerability particularly affects the integrity of network monitoring data and could compromise the confidentiality of sensitive operational information.
The flaw aligns with CWE-319, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper protection of communication channels, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage. Organizations relying on Cisco MediaSense for network monitoring should implement immediate mitigations including strengthening encryption protocols, implementing proper session management controls, and ensuring secure communication channels are established between clients and servers. Network segmentation and monitoring of suspicious communication patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts, while regular security updates and patches should be applied to address the underlying vulnerability in the web interface implementation.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of securing all communication channels within network monitoring systems, as these applications often handle sensitive operational data that could be leveraged for broader network compromise. The insecure handling of query strings and cookie information represents a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture that requires immediate attention to prevent potential exploitation by threat actors targeting enterprise network monitoring infrastructure.