CVE-2014-0671 in MediaSense
Summary
by MITRE
Open redirect vulnerability in Cisco MediaSense allows remote attackers to redirect users to arbitrary web sites and conduct phishing attacks via an unspecified parameter, aka Bug ID CSCum16749.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/31/2022
The CVE-2014-0671 vulnerability represents a critical open redirect flaw in Cisco MediaSense software that enables remote attackers to manipulate user navigation to malicious websites. This vulnerability specifically affects the Cisco MediaSense platform, which is designed to process and analyze media traffic for network monitoring and reporting purposes. The flaw manifests through an unspecified parameter that, when manipulated by an attacker, can cause the application to redirect users to arbitrary web addresses without proper validation or user consent. The vulnerability was documented under Bug ID CSCum16749, indicating its identification within Cisco's internal tracking systems. This issue represents a significant security risk as it can be exploited to facilitate phishing attacks, credential theft, and other malicious activities that rely on user trust and navigation manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the Cisco MediaSense application's parameter handling mechanisms. When users interact with the system through web interfaces or API calls, the application fails to properly sanitize or validate the input parameters that control redirection behavior. This allows attackers to inject malicious URLs that bypass the application's normal security checks, enabling unauthorized redirection to attacker-controlled domains. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, specifically affecting web-based interfaces that handle user navigation and session management. Attackers can leverage this flaw by crafting malicious URLs that include the vulnerable parameter, causing the application to redirect users to phishing sites or malicious content without proper authorization checks. The lack of proper input validation creates a direct pathway for attackers to manipulate the application's redirect functionality and compromise user security.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-0671 extends beyond simple redirection attacks, creating a comprehensive threat vector that can be exploited for advanced persistent threats and social engineering campaigns. Organizations using Cisco MediaSense systems face significant risks including unauthorized access to sensitive network data, potential credential compromise through phishing attacks, and loss of user trust in the monitored network infrastructure. The vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where MediaSense is used for critical network monitoring and analysis, as it provides attackers with a method to intercept user traffic and potentially escalate privileges. When combined with other attack vectors, this open redirect vulnerability can serve as a launching point for more sophisticated attacks, including man-in-the-middle scenarios where attackers can intercept and manipulate user communications. The impact is further amplified in environments where users frequently access the MediaSense interface, as the attack surface increases proportionally with user engagement.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-0671 should focus on immediate patch deployment and enhanced input validation controls. Organizations must prioritize applying Cisco's official security patches and updates that address the specific input validation flaws in the MediaSense application. Network administrators should implement additional security controls including web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious redirection attempts, and configure strict access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable interfaces. The implementation of proper URL validation mechanisms within the application layer can help prevent unauthorized redirection by ensuring that all redirect parameters are properly sanitized and validated against a trusted domain whitelist. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual redirect patterns and user navigation behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to raise awareness about phishing risks and suspicious navigation patterns that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-601 open redirect weaknesses and can be mapped to ATT&CK techniques involving credential access and initial access through phishing attacks, making it a critical concern for organizations following security frameworks such as NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 standards.