CVE-2015-0774 in Application
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Cisco Application and Content Networking System (ACNS) 5.5(9) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL, aka Bug ID CSCuu70650.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2015-0774 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco's Application and Content Networking System version 5.5(9). This security weakness resides in the web-based management interface of the ACNS platform, which is designed to provide content delivery and application networking services. The vulnerability specifically affects how the system processes and validates input parameters within URLs, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of URL parameters that are not properly sanitized or validated by the ACNS system. When a user navigates to a specially crafted URL containing malicious script payloads, the system fails to adequately filter or escape the input before rendering it in the web interface. This allows attackers to inject HTML and JavaScript code that executes in the browser of any user who accesses the malformed URL. The flaw is classified as a classic reflected XSS vulnerability where the malicious payload is reflected back to the user through the web application's response without proper input validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities within the targeted environment. An attacker could potentially steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious sites, or even escalate privileges within the ACNS system if proper access controls are not in place. The vulnerability affects the web management interface, which means that successful exploitation could compromise administrative access to the content networking system, potentially allowing full control over content delivery policies and network traffic management.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and it demonstrates the importance of implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving client-side exploitation and credential access through web-based attacks. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it allows for remote exploitation without requiring authentication, making it accessible to any attacker who can entice a user to click on a malicious link. The vulnerability also highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of web interfaces in network infrastructure devices, particularly those handling user input through URL parameters. Organizations using Cisco ACNS 5.5(9) should prioritize immediate patching and implementation of web application firewalls to protect against this type of attack vector, while also considering network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.
The broader implications of this vulnerability demonstrate how even network infrastructure devices that appear to be focused on content delivery and application networking can present significant security risks when proper web security practices are not implemented. This flaw exemplifies the growing complexity of modern network environments where traditional network security boundaries are increasingly blurred by web-based management interfaces and user-facing applications.