CVE-2014-3364 in Prime Security Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the web framework in Cisco Prime Security Manager (aka PRSM) 9.2.1-2 and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a (1) Access Policies or (2) Device Summary Dashboard parameter, aka Bug ID CSCuq80661.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/15/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2014-3364 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco Prime Security Manager version 9.2.1-2 and earlier releases, exposing the web framework to remote code execution risks. This vulnerability specifically affects the Access Policies and Device Summary Dashboard components, creating potential attack vectors that could be exploited by malicious actors without requiring authentication or privileged access. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the web interface, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts through carefully crafted parameters that are then executed in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a code injection flaw where untrusted data is directly included in web pages without proper sanitization or encoding. The attack occurs when user-supplied data enters the application through the Access Policies or Device Summary Dashboard parameters and is subsequently rendered without adequate filtering or escaping mechanisms. This allows attackers to inject HTML content or JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized access to sensitive network management functions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network security infrastructure administrators who rely on Cisco Prime Security Manager for critical security operations. The remote exploitation capability means attackers can compromise the web interface without physical access to the network, potentially leading to complete system takeover. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as it could enable attackers to manipulate security policies, access device configurations, or redirect users to malicious sites that appear legitimate within the trusted network environment. This vulnerability directly affects the integrity and confidentiality of security management operations, undermining the trust model that security administrators depend upon.
The attack surface for this vulnerability encompasses any user with access to the affected web interface components, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple administrators may have varying levels of access. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious payloads that leverage the parameter injection points in the Access Policies and Device Summary Dashboard functionality, which are commonly used by network security teams for routine monitoring and configuration tasks. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in their threat modeling and incident response planning, as it could be used in targeted attacks against network security infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Cisco Prime Security Manager versions that address this vulnerability, applying the relevant security patches released by Cisco, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to the vulnerable web interface. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious payloads, disabling unnecessary web interface functionality, and conducting thorough security assessments of the affected systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers phishing and social engineering attacks that often leverage web-based vulnerabilities to compromise systems.