CVE-2015-0690 in Wireless LAN Controller
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the HTML help system on Cisco Wireless LAN Controller (WLC) devices before 8.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL, aka Bug ID CSCun95178.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/26/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0690 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the HTML help system of Cisco Wireless LAN Controller devices. This weakness exists in WLC firmware versions prior to 8.0 and enables remote attackers to execute malicious web scripts or HTML content through the manipulation of crafted URLs. The vulnerability specifically targets the help system component that processes user input and displays contextual assistance information, creating an attack surface where untrusted data is directly embedded into web responses without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the help system's HTML rendering engine. When users navigate to help pages or interact with contextual assistance features, the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied parameters that are then reflected back in the HTML output. This allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers who access the compromised help system. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through web-based interfaces without requiring authentication or privileged access to the network infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0690 extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, redirect users to malicious websites, or execute arbitrary commands within the victim's browser context. Given that WLC devices manage wireless network access and authentication, successful exploitation could compromise the entire wireless infrastructure, allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to wireless networks, monitor traffic, or manipulate network policies. The vulnerability affects organizations relying on Cisco WLC devices for wireless network management, particularly those with web-based management interfaces that utilize the embedded help system.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Cisco WLC firmware version 8.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Network administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious requests targeting the help system components, and conduct thorough security assessments of all wireless network management interfaces. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which classifies cross-site scripting as a weakness in input validation and output encoding, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of web applications through XSS vectors. Additionally, organizations should review their network segmentation practices and implement least privilege access controls for wireless management interfaces to minimize the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.