CVE-2014-0681 in Identity Services Engine Software
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) 1.2 patch 2 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a report containing a crafted URL that is not properly handled during generation of report-output pages, aka Bug ID CSCui15064.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-0681 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco Identity Services Engine version 1.2 patch 2 and earlier implementations. This security weakness resides in the report generation functionality of the ISE platform, specifically in how the system processes and handles URL parameters during the creation of report output pages. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter malicious content embedded within report data, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers without authentication requirements.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing embedded script code that gets processed and rendered within the report output pages generated by the ISE system. This flaw falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is directly included in web pages without proper validation or sanitization. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it operates entirely within the web interface of the ISE platform, making it accessible to any remote user who can interact with the reporting functionality. The vulnerability is classified as a stored XSS issue since the malicious content becomes permanently embedded within the report data and persists until manually removed or the system is updated.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code within the context of a victim's browser session. This can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious sites, and potential privilege escalation within the network infrastructure. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to compromise the integrity of network access control policies managed by ISE, potentially gaining unauthorized access to network resources or disrupting legitimate authentication processes. The vulnerability affects the core reporting functionality of the ISE platform, which is critical for network security monitoring and compliance reporting, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where ISE serves as a central identity management solution.
Organizations utilizing affected Cisco ISE versions should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates that address the input validation gaps in the report generation module. Network segmentation and access controls should be enhanced to limit exposure of the ISE web interface to untrusted networks. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against malicious script injection attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachments, as attackers can leverage the XSS flaw to deliver malicious payloads through compromised report data. Regular security assessments and input validation reviews should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other components of the ISE platform and related network security infrastructure.