CVE-2016-1293 in FireSIGHT System Software
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Management Center in Cisco FireSIGHT System Software 6.0.0 and 6.0.1 allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified parameters, aka Bug ID CSCux40414.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2016-1293 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Cisco FireSIGHT System Software versions 6.0.0 and 6.0.1 within the Management Center component. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting and specifically targets the web interface of the security appliance, creating a significant attack surface for remote threat actors. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the Management Center's parameter handling, allowing malicious users to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content through unspecified parameters that are processed without proper sanitization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of input parameters that are subsequently rendered in the web interface without adequate security controls. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when executed, can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script injection as it represents a fundamental weakness in the application's security architecture where user-supplied data flows directly into the browser context without proper sanitization. This particular flaw is classified as a remote code execution risk within the context of web application security, as it enables attackers to manipulate the web interface and potentially gain unauthorized access to the security appliance's management functions.
The operational implications of CVE-2016-1293 are severe for organizations utilizing Cisco FireSIGHT systems, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited without requiring authentication or physical access to the network infrastructure. Security administrators face the challenge of maintaining visibility into their network security posture while simultaneously dealing with a potential backdoor that could allow attackers to establish persistent access to their security appliances. The vulnerability's presence in versions 6.0.0 and 6.0.1 indicates that it was likely introduced during the software development lifecycle due to inadequate security testing or code review processes, particularly focusing on input validation and output encoding controls. Organizations may experience cascading security issues as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, access sensitive configuration data, or compromise the integrity of the entire security infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1293 should prioritize immediate software patching to address the identified vulnerabilities in Cisco FireSIGHT System Software versions 6.0.0 and 6.0.1, with organizations implementing the latest available security updates from Cisco. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional defensive measures such as web application firewalls, input validation rules, and regular security assessments to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where attackers could leverage the XSS vulnerability to execute malicious scripts within the browser context of authenticated users. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior patterns consistent with XSS exploitation attempts, including unusual parameter values or unexpected data flows within the Management Center interface. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patched systems to ensure that the vulnerability has been properly addressed and that no regression issues have been introduced during the update process.