CVE-2015-6372 in Firepower Extensible Operating System
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the web-based management interface in Cisco Firepower Extensible Operating System 1.1(1.160) on Firepower 9000 devices allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted value, aka Bug ID CSCux10614.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2015-6372 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the web-based management interface of Cisco Firepower Extensible Operating System version 1.1(1.160) running on Firepower 9000 security appliances. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms in the web interface components that handle user-supplied data. The vulnerability specifically affects the management console accessible through web browsers, which serves as the primary administrative interface for configuring and managing the firewalls security policies and network traffic monitoring capabilities.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers craft malicious input values that are then processed and displayed within the web interface without proper sanitization. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code that executes in the context of authenticated users' browsers. The flaw resides in how the system handles user input parameters that are subsequently rendered in the web interface, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be executed with the privileges of legitimate users who access the management interface. The vulnerability is classified as a classic reflected XSS attack vector, where the malicious payload is embedded in a URL or form submission and executed when the victim accesses the compromised page.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the security appliance management interface. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially gain unauthorized access to the device configuration, modify security policies, view sensitive network information, and even escalate privileges to administrative levels. The Firepower 9000 devices are typically deployed at critical network boundaries where they serve as primary security controls, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous. The compromised management interface could allow attackers to disable security features, redirect traffic, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability undermines the fundamental security posture of organizations relying on these appliances for network protection, as it provides an attack vector that bypasses traditional network security controls.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco, which address the input validation and output encoding issues in the web interface components. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit administrative access to the management interface, while implementing additional authentication controls such as multi-factor authentication. Monitoring and logging of management interface access should be enhanced to detect suspicious activities, and network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious requests before they reach the vulnerable interface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and follows ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploit public-facing application, making it a high-priority remediation item for cybersecurity teams. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other network management interfaces and ensure comprehensive protection of critical infrastructure components.