CVE-2016-1474 in Prime Infrastructure
Summary
by MITRE
Cisco Prime Infrastructure 2.2(2) does not properly restrict use of IFRAME elements, which makes it easier for remote attackers to conduct clickjacking attacks and unspecified other attacks via a crafted web site, related to a "cross-frame scripting (XFS)" issue, aka Bug ID CSCuw65846, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-6434.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1474 affects Cisco Prime Infrastructure version 2.2(2) and represents a critical security flaw related to improper handling of IFRAME elements within the web interface. This issue stems from inadequate restrictions on cross-frame scripting operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system through crafted web content. The vulnerability specifically addresses a "cross-frame scripting (XFS)" problem that allows unauthorized manipulation of web interface elements across different frames, fundamentally compromising the security boundaries that should exist between different content contexts within the browser environment.
The technical implementation flaw manifests when the Prime Infrastructure web application fails to properly validate or sanitize IFRAME usage within its user interface components. This weakness enables attackers to embed malicious content within IFRAME elements that can interact with the legitimate application interface, potentially bypassing security controls that would normally prevent such cross-frame operations. The vulnerability's classification as a cross-frame scripting issue aligns with CWE-749, which describes the exposure of a function that can be used to execute code in another context, and represents a variant of the broader class of vulnerabilities that compromise web application security boundaries. The attack vector leverages the inherent browser behavior where content from different sources can be embedded within the same page, but without proper restrictions on how these embedded elements can interact with the parent application.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability significantly increases the attack surface for remote adversaries seeking to compromise Cisco Prime Infrastructure deployments. The ease with which attackers can conduct clickjacking attacks through this flaw means that legitimate users could be deceived into interacting with malicious content that appears to be part of the trusted Prime Infrastructure interface. This creates a dangerous scenario where authenticated users might unknowingly perform actions that benefit the attacker rather than the organization. The unspecified nature of additional attack vectors suggests that this vulnerability could potentially enable other forms of exploitation beyond clickjacking, including data exfiltration or privilege escalation attacks that leverage the compromised frame boundaries. The vulnerability's relationship to CSCuw65846 indicates it represents a distinct security issue from CVE-2015-6434, emphasizing that multiple cross-frame scripting vulnerabilities may exist within the same product family.
Organizations utilizing Cisco Prime Infrastructure 2.2(2) should prioritize immediate remediation through official Cisco security advisories and patches that address the IFRAME restriction issues. The mitigation strategy should include implementing proper content security policy headers that restrict frame embedding and ensure that all web interfaces properly validate frame contexts. Network administrators should also consider deploying web application firewalls or security proxies that can detect and block suspicious IFRAME usage patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and the need for web applications to maintain strict boundaries between different content contexts, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1211 which covers external remote exploitation through web interface vulnerabilities. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough assessments of their Prime Infrastructure deployments to identify any other potential cross-frame scripting vulnerabilities that may have similar characteristics and could be exploited in conjunction with this flaw.