CVE-2014-6620 in ClearPass
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Aruba Networks ClearPass before 6.3.6 and 6.4.x before 6.4.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2019
The CVE-2014-6620 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Aruba Networks ClearPass policy manager software. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 6.3.6 in the 6.3.x series and 6.4.1 in the 6.4.x series, creating a significant security risk for organizations utilizing Aruba's network access control solutions. The vulnerability permits remote attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive network resources and user data.
The technical nature of this XSS vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the ClearPass web interface. Attackers can exploit this weakness through unspecified vectors that likely involve manipulating user-supplied input fields or parameters within the web application. The vulnerability exists in the application's handling of user-provided data that is subsequently rendered in web pages without proper sanitization or encoding, allowing malicious scripts to be injected and executed in the browser context of authenticated users. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities within the network access control environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially hijack user sessions, access administrative functions, or gain unauthorized network access through the compromised ClearPass interface. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that ClearPass serves as a central policy manager for network access control, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to establish persistent access to corporate networks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers could leverage the XSS to execute malicious commands through the web interface.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through the installation of the vendor-provided patches released in ClearPass versions 6.3.6 and 6.4.1. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and user education regarding the risks of clicking suspicious links or visiting untrusted websites that might trigger the XSS payload. Security teams should also implement web application firewalls and input validation controls as additional defensive measures. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current security patches and conducting regular security assessments of network infrastructure components, particularly those handling user authentication and access control functions. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and privileged access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.