CVE-2014-3365 in Prime Security Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Cisco Prime Security Manager (PRSM) 9.2(.1-2) and earlier allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via crafted input to the (1) Dashboard or (2) Configure Realm page, aka Bug ID CSCuo94808.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3365 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in Cisco Prime Security Manager version 9.2(.1-2) and earlier releases. This flaw exists within the web-based administrative interface of the security management platform, specifically affecting two distinct areas of the application. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially compromising the security of users who interact with the affected system. The issue was catalogued under Bug ID CSCuo94808, indicating its identification within Cisco's internal tracking systems. This XSS vulnerability affects the Dashboard and Configure Realm pages, which are core components of the security manager's user interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the affected web pages of the Cisco Prime Security Manager. When users navigate to the Dashboard or Configure Realm sections, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before rendering it in the web interface. This insufficient sanitization creates an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious HTML code or JavaScript payloads through crafted input fields or parameters. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects administrative interfaces where users typically have elevated privileges, potentially allowing attackers to escalate their access and compromise the entire security management infrastructure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can be exploited to perform various malicious activities within the context of authenticated sessions. Attackers could potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, modify content displayed to other administrators, or even execute commands with the privileges of the affected user. The vulnerability affects organizations using Cisco Prime Security Manager for network security management, potentially exposing sensitive configuration data and security policies to unauthorized access. Given that this vulnerability exists in the web interface, it can be exploited remotely without requiring physical access to the network infrastructure, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with remote administrative access requirements.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Cisco Prime Security Manager versions that contain the necessary security patches. Cisco typically addresses such vulnerabilities through official security advisories and software updates that include proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block XSS attack patterns, though these should be viewed as temporary measures until official patches are deployed. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in software applications, and could be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Scripting and T1566.001 for Phishing, as attackers might leverage this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through compromised administrative sessions. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their web applications to identify similar input validation weaknesses that could be exploited in other parts of their infrastructure.