CVE-2015-4266 in Identity Services Engine
Summary
by MITRE
The web interface in Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) 1.1(4.1), 1.3(106.146), and 1.3(120.135) does not properly restrict use of IFRAME elements, which makes it easier for remote attackers to conduct clickjacking attacks and unspecified other attacks via a crafted web site, related to a "cross-frame scripting (XFS)" issue, aka Bug ID CSCut04556.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4266 affects Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) web interfaces across specific version releases including 1.1(4.1), 1.3(106.146), and 1.3(120.135). This security flaw represents a critical weakness in the web application's handling of cross-frame scripting elements, specifically failing to properly restrict IFRAME usage within the user interface. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms that should prevent malicious web content from embedding or manipulating interface elements in unintended ways. This issue creates a dangerous attack surface where remote adversaries can exploit the web interface's insufficient protection mechanisms to manipulate user interactions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive network management functions.
The technical flaw manifests through the improper handling of IFRAME elements within the web interface, which directly relates to the cross-frame scripting vulnerability category. This vulnerability allows attackers to craft malicious websites that can embed legitimate ISE interface elements within invisible or deceptive frames, enabling clickjacking attacks where users are tricked into performing unintended actions. The weakness occurs at the application layer where the web interface fails to implement proper security headers and frame restriction mechanisms, particularly the absence of X-Frame-Options headers that would prevent the interface from being embedded in external frames. This flaw falls under CWE-1021, which specifically addresses insufficient restriction of XML External Entity references, and more broadly relates to CWE-352, Cross-Site Request Forgery, due to the potential for unauthorized actions being performed on behalf of authenticated users.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-4266 extends beyond simple clickjacking attacks to encompass broader security implications for network infrastructure management. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to manipulate authenticated sessions within the ISE environment, potentially gaining access to sensitive network policies, user authentication data, and management interfaces. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform actions such as modifying network access control policies, viewing sensitive configuration data, and potentially escalating privileges within the ISE environment. This represents a significant risk for enterprise networks that rely on ISE for identity management and network access control, as successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of network security controls and unauthorized access to critical network resources. The vulnerability also impacts the principle of least privilege by allowing attackers to bypass normal authentication and authorization mechanisms that should protect the ISE management interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-4266 should focus on implementing proper frame restriction mechanisms and security headers within the web application. Organizations should deploy X-Frame-Options headers with appropriate values such as DENY or SAMEORIGIN to prevent the ISE interface from being embedded in external frames. Network administrators should also implement web application firewalls and security monitoring solutions that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to patched versions of Cisco ISE software that properly address the cross-frame scripting issue and implement comprehensive security controls for web interface elements. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their ISE implementations and ensure proper network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper web security controls and maintaining up-to-date security patches for network infrastructure management systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1566 for credential access through social engineering attacks that leverage web interface vulnerabilities.