CVE-2013-5563 in Security Monitoring Analysis
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Query/NewQueryResult.jsp in Cisco Security Monitoring, Analysis and Response System (CS-MARS) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the isnowLatency parameter, aka Bug ID CSCul16173.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2017
The CVE-2013-5563 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Cisco Security Monitoring, Analysis and Response System (CS-MARS) version 5.0 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the Query/NewQueryResult.jsp component within the CS-MARS platform, which serves as a core element for security monitoring and analysis operations. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts within the context of authenticated users' browsers. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects a security monitoring system that organizations rely upon for detecting and responding to network threats, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise security operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper handling of the isnowLatency parameter in the NewQueryResult.jsp page. When a user submits a query with malicious input in this parameter, the application fails to adequately sanitize or encode the input before rendering it in the web response. This allows attackers to inject HTML tags and JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser when the page is rendered. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which classifies it as a classic cross-site scripting attack where untrusted data flows from the web application to the user's browser without proper validation or encoding. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites, all while appearing to originate from legitimate system components.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-5563 extends beyond simple script injection as it directly undermines the security posture of organizations using CS-MARS for their security monitoring needs. When exploited, this vulnerability allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive security data and potentially compromise the entire monitoring infrastructure. The attack can be executed without requiring authentication to the CS-MARS system itself, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone who can access the affected web interface. Organizations may experience unauthorized data access, session hijacking, and potential escalation of privileges within their security monitoring environment. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script injection and T1566 for social engineering techniques that could be employed to exploit this weakness.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-5563 should focus on immediate remediation through official Cisco security patches and updates. Organizations must ensure their CS-MARS systems are updated to versions that address this vulnerability, as Cisco released patches specifically designed to resolve the input validation issues in the NewQueryResult.jsp component. Network administrators should implement input validation at multiple layers including web application firewalls, proxy servers, and application-level controls to prevent malicious payloads from reaching the vulnerable components. Additional defensive measures include disabling unnecessary web interfaces, implementing strict access controls, and monitoring for suspicious query parameters that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other components of the security infrastructure, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization in security monitoring applications.