CVE-2016-6404 in IOS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the web framework in Cisco IOx Local Manager in IOS 15.5(2)T and IOS XE allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a crafted URL, aka Bug ID CSCuy19854.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2016-6404 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco IOx Local Manager component of IOS 15.5(2)T and IOS XE operating systems. This vulnerability specifically affects the web framework implementation that governs the IOx Local Manager service, which serves as a management interface for Cisco's IOx platform that enables application deployment and management on network devices. The flaw manifests when the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input within URL parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary web scripts or HTML code within the context of authenticated user sessions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web framework's URL handling routines. When a maliciously crafted URL is processed by the IOx Local Manager, the system does not adequately filter or escape special characters that could be interpreted as executable script code. This weakness allows attackers to inject malicious payloads that persist within the application's response handling, enabling unauthorized code execution in the victim's browser context. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires a user to be authenticated to the IOx Local Manager interface, though the attack can be initiated remotely through crafted web requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it can potentially enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive session cookies, or redirect users to malicious websites. Attackers could leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to network device management functions, escalate privileges within the IOx environment, or extract confidential information from authenticated sessions. The vulnerability affects Cisco's IOx Local Manager, which is designed to facilitate application management on network infrastructure, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where network device security is paramount. This weakness directly relates to CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate deployment of Cisco's security patches and updates that address the input validation flaws in the IOx Local Manager web framework. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to IOx Local Manager interfaces, enforce strict access controls and authentication mechanisms, and monitor for suspicious URL patterns in web logs. Network administrators should consider disabling IOx Local Manager services when not actively required, implement web application firewalls to filter malicious requests, and conduct regular security assessments of network device management interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of management interfaces in network infrastructure devices.