CVE-2014-2147 in Prime Infrastructure
Summary
by MITRE
The web interface in Cisco Prime Infrastructure 2.1 and earlier does not properly restrict use of IFRAME elements, which makes it easier for remote attackers to conduct clickjacking attacks and unspecified other attacks via a crafted web site, related to a "cross-frame scripting (XFS)" issue, aka Bug ID CSCuj42444.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2147 affects Cisco Prime Infrastructure 2.1 and earlier versions, specifically targeting the web interface's handling of IFRAME elements. This weakness represents a critical security flaw that undermines the application's ability to properly enforce cross-frame scripting restrictions, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system through crafted web content. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-749 as an exposed risky method or function, specifically relating to improper restriction of IFRAME usage within web applications.
The technical flaw manifests in the web interface's failure to adequately validate and sanitize IFRAME elements, allowing attackers to embed malicious content within frames that can interact with the Prime Infrastructure interface. This cross-frame scripting vulnerability enables attackers to create deceptive web pages that can manipulate the user's interaction with the legitimate system, making it particularly dangerous for privilege escalation and unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability directly relates to the improper implementation of frame restriction mechanisms, which should prevent external content from embedding or interacting with the application's interface elements.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables remote attackers to conduct sophisticated clickjacking attacks, where users are tricked into performing unintended actions within the Prime Infrastructure interface. Attackers can craft malicious websites that overlay legitimate interface elements with hidden malicious content, potentially leading to unauthorized administrative actions, data exfiltration, or system compromise. The unspecified nature of additional attack vectors suggests that this vulnerability may also enable other forms of cross-frame manipulation that could be leveraged for privilege escalation or information disclosure attacks.
Organizations utilizing Cisco Prime Infrastructure 2.1 or earlier versions face substantial risk from this vulnerability, as it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication or specialized access. The attack surface is broad since the vulnerability affects the web interface, which is typically accessible from external networks for administrative purposes. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching to the latest version of Cisco Prime Infrastructure, implementing proper frame restriction headers such as X-Frame-Options, and establishing network segmentation to limit exposure of the web interface to untrusted networks. Additionally, security awareness training for administrators can help prevent social engineering attacks that might exploit this vulnerability.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and frame restriction implementation in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for web application attacks and T1566 for credential harvesting through deception. Organizations should implement comprehensive security controls including web application firewalls, regular security assessments, and monitoring for suspicious frame embedding activities to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The incident highlights the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security patches and following security best practices for web application development to prevent similar cross-frame scripting vulnerabilities from compromising system integrity and confidentiality.