CVE-2016-1471 in Small Business 220
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the web-based management interface on Cisco Small Business 220 devices with firmware before 1.0.1.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL, aka Bug ID CSCuz76232.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/14/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2016-1471 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw discovered in Cisco Small Business 220 series network switches. This vulnerability affects devices running firmware versions prior to 1.0.1.1 and resides within the web-based management interface component of these networking devices. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts by manipulating URL parameters, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these switches for network infrastructure management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the web interface of the affected Cisco devices. When users navigate to specially crafted URLs containing malicious script payloads, the device fails to properly sanitize these inputs before rendering them in the browser context. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary HTML and JavaScript code that executes in the context of other users who access the management interface. The vulnerability specifically impacts the authentication and session management components of the web interface, making it particularly dangerous for administrative access points.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses severe risks to enterprise network security. Attackers can leverage this XSS flaw to hijack administrator sessions, steal credentials, or manipulate network configurations through the management interface. The remote exploit capability means that attackers do not require physical access to the devices or network proximity to execute attacks. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the network infrastructure by potentially allowing unauthorized modifications to switch configurations, creation of backdoors, or redirection of administrative traffic to malicious endpoints.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including firmware updates to version 1.0.1.1 or later, which address the input validation issues in the web interface. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit exposure of management interfaces to trusted networks only. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as a primary concern for web application security. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the credential access and privilege escalation techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting the web application attack surface and administrative access points. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other network equipment and ensure comprehensive protection against similar attack vectors.