CVE-2015-0757 in Identity Services Engine
Summary
by MITRE
The web framework in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) 1.2(1.901) and 1.3(0.722) does not properly implement session handlers, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by reading web pages, as demonstrated by MnT reports, aka Bug ID CSCuq23140.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0757 affects Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) versions 1.2(1.901) and 1.3(0.722) where the web framework fails to properly implement session handlers. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that enables remote attackers to access sensitive information through web page reading operations. The vulnerability specifically impacts the session management mechanisms within the ISE web interface, creating an avenue for unauthorized data exposure that could compromise the integrity and confidentiality of network authentication processes.
This technical flaw falls under the category of improper session handling, which aligns with CWE-613 and CWE-306 categories from the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the web application's session management system to read sensitive information that should normally be restricted to authorized users. The demonstration of this vulnerability through MnT reports indicates that it specifically affects the monitoring and reporting functionality of the ISE platform, potentially exposing administrative data, user credentials, or network configuration details.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical network authentication data. The ISE platform serves as a central authentication and authorization system for network access control, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous. Attackers could potentially extract sensitive information including user authentication details, network policies, or administrative reports that would normally be protected by proper session management controls. This weakness could facilitate further attacks including privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-0757 should focus on implementing proper session management controls and upgrading to patched versions of Cisco ISE. Organizations should ensure that session handlers are properly configured with appropriate timeout mechanisms, secure session identifiers, and proper access controls. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST Secure Coding guidelines, particularly regarding session management and authentication controls. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential access and T1071 for application layer protocols.