CVE-2015-0674 in Cloud Web Security
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Alert Service of Cisco Cloud Web Security base revision allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0674 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco Cloud Web Security's Alert Service component. This security weakness resides in the base revision of the cloud security platform, which is designed to protect organizations from malicious web content and threats. The vulnerability specifically affects the alert notification system that is integral to the platform's threat detection and response capabilities. Attackers can exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of a user's browser session, potentially compromising the security of the affected system.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs through unspecified parameters within the Alert Service functionality. These parameters likely handle user input or data from external sources that are not properly sanitized or validated before being rendered in web responses. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses that occur when an application includes untrusted data in a new web page without proper validation or escaping, or when it reuses untrusted data in a context that requires sanitization. The attack vector suggests that malicious actors can manipulate input fields or URL parameters that feed into the alert generation process, thereby injecting malicious scripts that execute when legitimate users view alert notifications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to perform a range of malicious activities within the targeted environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially steal user session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface web interfaces, or even execute more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft or privilege escalation within the context of the affected application. The Alert Service component is particularly concerning because it serves as a communication channel between the security platform and its users, making it a prime target for exploitation. This vulnerability undermines the trust model of the security platform and could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive threat intelligence or security notifications that are meant to protect the organization.
Organizations utilizing Cisco Cloud Web Security should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including deploying the latest security patches provided by Cisco, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms, and conducting thorough security assessments of the alert service components. The mitigation strategy should align with ATT&CK framework techniques related to defense evasion and credential access, as the vulnerability could enable adversaries to bypass security controls and gain unauthorized access to system resources. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring and logging controls around the alert service endpoints to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating and sanitizing all user inputs within security applications, as even notification systems can become attack vectors when proper security controls are not implemented. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure they can quickly detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts targeting the alert service functionality.