CVE-2014-2153 in Prime Infrastructure
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in INSERT pages in Cisco Prime Infrastructure allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified parameters, aka Bug ID CSCun21869.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2022
Cisco Prime Infrastructure represents a comprehensive network management solution that provides monitoring, configuration, and troubleshooting capabilities for enterprise networks. The platform serves as a central hub for managing Cisco networking equipment and applications, making it a critical component in enterprise security infrastructure. The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-2153 specifically targets the INSERT pages functionality within this platform, which are used for adding new network elements or configuration data to the system. These pages form part of the user interface that allows administrators to input various parameters and settings for network devices, making them potential attack vectors for malicious actors seeking to compromise the system.
The technical flaw manifests as multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities present in the INSERT pages of Cisco Prime Infrastructure. These vulnerabilities arise from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web application's user interface components. Attackers can exploit these weaknesses by crafting malicious payloads that contain script code within unspecified parameters that are processed by the application's INSERT functionality. The vulnerability is classified as a client-side attack vector where malicious scripts are injected into web pages viewed by other users, potentially affecting administrators or other authenticated users who interact with the compromised pages. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a weakness that occurs when an application includes untrusted data in a new web page without proper validation or escaping, allowing attackers to execute scripts in the victim's browser context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attacks within the network management environment. An attacker who successfully exploits these XSS vulnerabilities could gain access to administrative sessions, steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject malicious content that could compromise the integrity of network configuration data. The vulnerability affects the availability and confidentiality of the network management system, as it provides a potential entry point for attackers to escalate privileges or gain unauthorized access to sensitive network information. Given that Cisco Prime Infrastructure serves as a central management point for enterprise networks, successful exploitation could lead to widespread compromise of network infrastructure and potentially facilitate further attacks against connected systems. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it affects pages that are routinely used for adding new network elements, making the exploitation opportunity frequent and potentially persistent.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should encompass multiple layers of defense to protect against both the immediate XSS threat and potential escalation. Organizations should immediately apply the security patches released by Cisco to address the identified vulnerabilities, as these patches typically include proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the scope of potential exploitation, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access the affected web interfaces. Web application firewalls and content security policies should be configured to detect and block malicious script injections. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the network management infrastructure. The implementation of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices should be enforced throughout the application development lifecycle, following secure coding guidelines and standards that align with industry best practices for preventing XSS attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing user training programs to raise awareness about social engineering attacks that might attempt to exploit these vulnerabilities through phishing or other deceptive methods.