CVE-2015-0737 in FireSIGHT System Software
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Cisco FireSIGHT System Software 5.3.1.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted (1) GET or (2) POST parameter, aka Bug ID CSCuu11099.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2015-0737 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco FireSIGHT System Software version 5.3.1.1, which operates as a network security platform designed to provide intrusion prevention and threat detection capabilities. This vulnerability exposes the system to remote code execution risks through web-based attack vectors that can be exploited by malicious actors without requiring authentication or physical access to the network infrastructure. The flaw specifically affects the software's handling of user input parameters in HTTP requests, creating a pathway for attackers to inject malicious scripts that can be executed within the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization mechanisms within the FireSIGHT software's web interface components. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting specially designed GET or POST requests that contain malicious script code within parameter values, which the system fails to properly filter or escape before rendering in web responses. This allows the injected scripts to execute in the victim's browser context, potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious websites. The vulnerability affects the system's user interface components that process HTTP requests, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through normal web browsing activities without requiring specialized tools or conditions.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-0737 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can potentially enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to the security system itself. This could lead to complete compromise of the network monitoring capabilities, allowing threat actors to bypass security controls, modify system configurations, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target the system from anywhere on the internet, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that expose their security appliances to external networks. Organizations using this software may experience unauthorized data access, system availability issues, and potential escalation to more severe security incidents that could compromise their entire network security posture.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco, which address the input validation issues in the web interface components. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit exposure of the vulnerable system to untrusted networks. The implementation of web application firewalls and content security policies can help detect and block malicious script injection attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual traffic patterns or suspicious parameter values that may indicate exploitation attempts. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79 which describes Cross-site Scripting flaws, while ATT&CK framework classification would include techniques related to web application exploitation and credential access through malicious script execution. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other network security components that may present similar attack surfaces.