CVE-2016-1294 in FireSIGHT System Software
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Management Center in Cisco FireSIGHT System Software 6.0.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted cookie, aka Bug ID CSCuw89094.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1294 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco FireSIGHT System Software version 6.0.1 Management Center component. This vulnerability specifically affects the web-based administrative interface that security professionals use to manage and configure the fireSIGHT system. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially compromising the security of the management interface and the systems it controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the Management Center's cookie handling mechanism. Attackers can craft malicious cookies containing script code that gets processed and executed when the authenticated user accesses the management interface. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is improperly sanitized before being rendered in web applications. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by attackers who only need to deliver the malicious cookie to a victim who is already authenticated to the FireSIGHT Management Center.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to complete compromise of the management interface and potentially the underlying network security infrastructure. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive configuration data, modify firewall rules, escalate privileges within the management system, or redirect users to malicious sites. The attack vector through crafted cookies means that exploitation can occur through various delivery mechanisms including phishing campaigns, compromised websites, or even through malicious network traffic that the FireSIGHT system processes. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059 for command and control through web scripting, and T1071 for application layer protocol usage.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1294 should prioritize immediate remediation through official Cisco security patches and updates. Organizations must ensure their FireSIGHT Management Center systems are updated to versions that address this vulnerability, as Cisco released specific patches to resolve the cookie handling issues. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect anomalous cookie traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and strict content security policies can provide additional protection layers. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to ensure no other components of the FireSIGHT system remain vulnerable, and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts through unauthorized access to management interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices in web applications, particularly in security management systems where administrative access can lead to complete infrastructure compromise.