CVE-2015-1389 in ClearPass Policy Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Aruba Networks ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) before 6.4.5 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the username parameter to tips/tipsLoginSubmit.action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1389 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Aruba Networks ClearPass Policy Manager version 6.4.4 and earlier. This weakness exists in the web application layer of the CPPM system, which is designed for network access control and policy enforcement. The vulnerability specifically affects the tips/tipsLoginSubmit.action endpoint, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking to exploit the authentication mechanism of the system. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate the username parameter through HTTP requests, potentially compromising the security of the entire network access control infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the web application's processing of user-supplied data. When the username parameter is submitted through the tipsLoginSubmit.action endpoint, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before incorporating it into the web response. This oversight creates a condition where malicious scripts can be executed within the context of other users' browsers who interact with the vulnerable application. The vulnerability manifests as a reflected XSS attack, where the malicious payload is embedded in the URL or form data and executed when the victim accesses the maliciously crafted page. This weakness directly maps to CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as the injection of malicious scripts into web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft or defacement. An attacker who successfully exploits this flaw could potentially escalate privileges, gain unauthorized access to network resources, or manipulate the authentication flow of the ClearPass Policy Manager. The attack surface is particularly concerning because the vulnerability affects the login submission functionality, which means that any user attempting to authenticate could be exposed to malicious script execution. This could lead to credential theft, session hijacking, or the redirection of users to malicious sites that appear legitimate within the context of the network access control system. The compromised authentication system could ultimately allow attackers to bypass network security controls and gain unauthorized network access, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where network access control is critical.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of Aruba Networks ClearPass Policy Manager should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation. The most critical action involves upgrading to version 6.4.5 or later, which includes proper input validation and output encoding fixes for the affected endpoint. Additionally, network administrators should implement web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious payloads targeting the specific vulnerable parameter. Input sanitization measures should be enhanced at the application level, ensuring that all user-supplied data undergoes strict validation before being processed or displayed. Security monitoring should be strengthened to detect anomalous patterns in login attempts and web requests to the tipsLoginSubmit.action endpoint. The implementation of content security policies and proper HTTP headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their network access control infrastructure and ensure that all endpoints are regularly updated to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.