CVE-2016-1462 in Prime Service Catalog
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the web-based management interface in Cisco Prime Service Catalog (PSC) 11.0 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted value, aka Bug ID CSCuz63795.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1462 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco Prime Service Catalog version 11.0 web-based management interface. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input within the web interface, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability specifically affects the PSC 11.0 platform, which is a comprehensive service catalog management solution designed to streamline IT service provisioning and management within enterprise environments. The issue was documented under Bug ID CSCuz63795, highlighting the specific nature of the input validation failure that enables this attack vector.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms within the web interface components of Cisco Prime Service Catalog. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input values that contain script code or HTML elements, which are then processed and rendered by the application without proper validation or sanitization. When legitimate users view pages containing these crafted values, the embedded scripts execute within their browser context, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect them to malicious websites. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, leveraging the trust relationship between the user's browser and the web application to execute malicious code without requiring authentication or privileged access to the system itself.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can lead to significant security breaches within enterprise environments that utilize Cisco Prime Service Catalog. Remote attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to the management interface, potentially compromising the entire service catalog infrastructure. The attack surface includes any user with access to the web interface who might encounter the malicious input, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where administrators and end users interact with the same platform. Organizations using this software face risks including data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure, as the compromised session could provide access to other connected systems or applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1462 should prioritize immediate patch application from Cisco, as the vendor would have released a security update addressing the specific input validation flaws. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures, including strict sanitization of all user-supplied data before processing or display within the web interface. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper output encoding mechanisms can provide additional defense-in-depth layers against XSS attacks. Network segmentation and access controls should limit exposure of the management interface to trusted networks only, while regular security assessments and monitoring of user activity can help detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a common attack pattern categorized under the ATT&CK framework as T1566.001, focusing on the initial access phase through malicious web content delivery. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security training for administrators to recognize and respond to potential exploitation attempts.