CVE-2014-2138 in Security Manager
Summary
by MITRE
CRLF injection vulnerability in the web framework in Cisco Security Manager 4.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTTP headers and conduct redirection attacks via a crafted URL, aka Bug ID CSCun82349.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-2138 represents a critical CRLF injection flaw within Cisco Security Manager's web framework, specifically affecting versions 4.2 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input within URL parameters, creating a pathway for remote attackers to manipulate HTTP headers through carefully crafted malicious requests. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter carriage return and line feed characters, which are fundamental components of HTTP protocol communication. Attackers can exploit this weakness to inject arbitrary HTTP headers into responses, potentially enabling them to redirect users to malicious websites or manipulate web application behavior in ways that compromise user security and data integrity.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-established pattern where attackers construct malicious URLs containing CRLF sequences such as %0d%0a or \r\n within URL parameters or query strings. When the vulnerable web framework processes these inputs without proper sanitization, it incorporates the injected characters into HTTP response headers, allowing attackers to insert malicious headers like Location, Set-Cookie, or other HTTP headers that can redirect users or modify session behavior. This type of injection attack directly maps to CWE-117, which describes improper output neutralization for logs, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation. The vulnerability essentially bypasses normal input validation controls, enabling attackers to inject content that should never be present in HTTP headers, thereby compromising the integrity of web application responses.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-2138 extends beyond simple redirection attacks to encompass broader security implications for organizations relying on Cisco Security Manager for network security management. Remote attackers could leverage this vulnerability to conduct phishing attacks by redirecting users to malicious sites that appear legitimate, potentially stealing credentials or sensitive information. The vulnerability also enables session hijacking scenarios where attackers might manipulate session cookies or authentication headers to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions. Additionally, the injection of malicious headers could be used to manipulate browser behavior, execute cross-site scripting attacks, or interfere with security mechanisms such as content security policies. Organizations using affected versions of Cisco Security Manager face significant risk of unauthorized access to their security infrastructure, potentially compromising their entire network security posture.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with upgrading to Cisco Security Manager versions that contain the necessary patches and security fixes. The affected systems should undergo immediate vulnerability assessment to identify any potential exploitation attempts or compromised systems. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of vulnerable components to untrusted networks. Web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious CRLF sequences in HTTP headers and URL parameters. Regular security monitoring and log analysis should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on unusual header injection patterns or unexpected redirect behaviors. Additionally, organizations should implement comprehensive input validation controls at multiple layers of their application architecture, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before processing, and should conduct regular security testing to verify the effectiveness of their mitigation measures.