CVE-2014-3267 in Security Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the web framework in Cisco Security Manager 4.6 and earlier allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of arbitrary users for requests that make unspecified changes, aka Bug ID CSCuo46427.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2021
The CVE-2014-3267 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within Cisco Security Manager version 4.6 and earlier releases. This vulnerability resides in the web framework component of the security management platform, which serves as the primary interface for administrators to configure and manage network security policies. The flaw enables remote attackers to exploit the authentication mechanisms of the system by tricking authenticated users into executing unauthorized actions through maliciously crafted requests. The vulnerability specifically affects the web-based administrative interface, where users must authenticate to perform configuration changes, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where security managers handle sensitive network configurations.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF protection mechanisms within the web application framework. When legitimate users authenticate to the Cisco Security Manager interface, their session tokens are typically stored in cookies or other client-side storage mechanisms. The vulnerability occurs because the application fails to validate that requests originate from the authenticated user's legitimate session rather than from external malicious sources. Attackers can construct malicious web pages or send specially crafted emails containing links or embedded scripts that, when executed by an authenticated user, trigger unintended administrative actions on the security manager. This flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets the web framework's session management and request validation processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification, as it enables attackers to hijack administrative sessions and potentially compromise entire network security infrastructures. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could perform unauthorized changes to firewall rules, modify security policies, alter user access controls, or even disable critical security features. The unspecified changes mentioned in the vulnerability description suggest that the scope of potential damage is broad and could include configuration modifications that significantly weaken network security posture. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where the Cisco Security Manager is used to control critical network infrastructure components, as unauthorized changes could lead to complete network compromise or service disruption.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, starting with immediate patching of affected Cisco Security Manager installations to version 4.7 or later where the CSRF protection mechanisms have been properly implemented. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of the administrative interface to trusted networks only, while implementing strong authentication mechanisms including multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact if session hijacking occurs. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper CSRF token validation should be enforced at the web application level to prevent unauthorized requests from being processed. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other network management systems, as this type of flaw often indicates broader architectural weaknesses in web application security design.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications, and maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for credential harvesting and T1071 for application layer protocols. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects enterprise security management tools, which are often targets for advanced persistent threats due to their privileged access to network infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring solutions that can detect and prevent CSRF attack patterns, while establishing incident response procedures specifically tailored to address session hijacking and authentication bypass scenarios. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing network security configurations and that all administrative functions operate correctly with the new CSRF protection mechanisms in place.