CVE-2014-8028 in Secure Access Control Server
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the web framework in Cisco Secure Access Control System (ACS) allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified parameters, aka Bug ID CSCuq79019.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8028 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco Secure Access Control System's web framework, classified under CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. This vulnerability resides in the authentication and authorization mechanisms of Cisco ACS, a network access control solution that manages user access to network resources. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially compromising the entire network access control infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the web application's parameter handling mechanisms. Attackers can exploit unspecified parameters within the ACS web interface to inject malicious HTML content or JavaScript code that gets executed when other users view affected pages. The vulnerability specifically affects the web framework component of Cisco ACS, which processes user requests and generates dynamic web content for administrative interfaces. This allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and potentially escalate privileges within the access control system.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-8028 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to manipulate the access control policies and user permissions within the Cisco ACS environment. Successful exploitation could allow unauthorized users to gain administrative access to network resources, modify user accounts, or redirect traffic through maliciously crafted web requests. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers do not require physical access to the network infrastructure, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on Cisco ACS for network security. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell, as the malicious scripts can be used to establish persistent access and execute commands within the network.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Cisco, implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious requests, and conducting thorough security assessments of their access control infrastructure. Network segmentation and monitoring of web traffic can help detect exploitation attempts, while regular security audits should verify proper input validation across all web applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input sanitization and output encoding in web applications, as outlined in OWASP Top Ten Project's A03:2021 - Injection and A04:2021 - Insecure Design. Additionally, the flaw underscores the necessity of implementing defense-in-depth strategies that protect critical infrastructure components from remote exploitation attempts.