CVE-2014-0680 in Identity Services Engine
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the HTTP control interface in the NAC Web Agent component in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL, aka Bug ID CSCui15038.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0680 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Network Access Control Web Agent component of Cisco Identity Services Engine. This security weakness resides in the HTTP control interface that handles web-based management operations for network access control policies. The vulnerability affects Cisco ISE deployments where the Web Agent component is enabled, creating a potential attack vector for malicious actors seeking to compromise network security infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when the HTTP control interface fails to properly sanitize user input within crafted URLs. Attackers can construct malicious URLs containing embedded script code that gets executed within the context of authenticated users' browsers when they access the vulnerable interface. This flaw specifically targets the parameter handling mechanisms within the Web Agent component, where input validation is insufficient to prevent malicious payload injection. The vulnerability operates through the standard web request processing pipeline where user-supplied URL parameters are directly incorporated into dynamic web content without adequate sanitization or encoding measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities within the targeted environment. An attacker could exploit this weakness to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized administrative actions, redirect users to malicious websites, or extract sensitive information from authenticated sessions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core management interface of the Identity Services Engine, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to network access control policies and user authentication data. This could lead to complete compromise of the network access control infrastructure and unauthorized network access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-0680 should focus on immediate patch deployment from Cisco, specifically addressing the input validation issues within the Web Agent component. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the ISE management interfaces and deploy web application firewalls to filter malicious requests. Additionally, administrators should disable unnecessary web agent functionality and ensure proper input sanitization controls are in place. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script execution through web interfaces. Regular security assessments and input validation reviews should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other components of the network infrastructure.