CVE-2016-1355 in FireSIGHT System Software
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Device Management UI in the management interface in Cisco FireSIGHT System Software 6.1.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted value, aka Bug ID CSCuy41687.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1355 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco FireSIGHT System Software version 6.1.0, specifically affecting the Device Management UI component of the management interface. This vulnerability resides in the web-based administrative console that system administrators use to configure and manage firewalls and security appliances, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking unauthorized access to network security infrastructure. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the user interface, creating an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into the system's administrative interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts a specially malformed input value that bypasses the system's security controls and gets executed within the context of a legitimate user's browser session. This type of attack leverages the fundamental weakness in web application security where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to users. The vulnerability specifically affects the Device Management UI, which handles configuration parameters, device settings, and administrative commands, making it particularly dangerous as it could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of the victim's browser session or potentially escalate privileges within the management interface. The attack vector requires no authentication for initial exploitation, as the vulnerability exists in the publicly accessible management interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially allowing attackers to perform session hijacking, steal administrative credentials, or manipulate security policies within the FireSIGHT system. Attackers could leverage this weakness to establish persistent access to the network security infrastructure, potentially leading to complete compromise of the protected network environment. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Cisco FireSIGHT appliances for network security management, particularly those with exposed management interfaces or insufficient network segmentation. Given that this vulnerability was present in version 6.1.0, organizations using older versions or those that had not applied security patches would be at risk of exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1355 should focus on immediate patch deployment from Cisco, specifically addressing the input validation and output encoding deficiencies in the Device Management UI. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the FireSIGHT management interface to authorized administrative networks only, utilizing firewall rules and access control lists to restrict exposure. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls to monitor and filter malicious requests, enabling strict content security policies, and conducting regular security assessments of the management interface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a technique commonly used in the initial access phase of attacks mapped to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploit public-facing application. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous behavior in the management interface and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing web application vulnerabilities in security infrastructure components.