CVE-2017-12265 in ASA
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the web-based management interface of an affected device, aka HREF XSS. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input by the web-based management interface of an affected device. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user of the interface to click a crafted link. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary script code in the context of the interface or allow the attacker to access sensitive browser-based information. The vulnerability exists in the Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software when the WEBVPN feature is enabled. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCve91068.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12265 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the web-based management interface of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA) Software, specifically affecting the WEBVPN feature. This weakness enables unauthenticated remote attackers to execute malicious scripts against users interacting with the affected management interface, fundamentally compromising the security posture of network devices. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing within the web application context. The attack vector requires social engineering to convince a legitimate user to click on a maliciously crafted link, making this exploit particularly dangerous as it leverages user trust and browser-based execution contexts. According to the Cisco Bug ID CSCve91068, this flaw specifically manifests when the WEBVPN functionality is enabled, indicating that the vulnerability is not present in all ASA configurations but rather when specific features are active. The impact of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a common web application security flaw where improper validation of input allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The operational implications of CVE-2017-12265 extend beyond simple script execution, as successful exploitation can provide attackers with the ability to access sensitive browser-based information and execute arbitrary code within the context of the management interface. This capability allows threat actors to potentially escalate privileges, access administrative functions, or extract confidential data from the compromised session. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would fall within the T1059.001 technique for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting web-based interfaces. Network security administrators face significant challenges when addressing this flaw, as it requires careful consideration of the WEBVPN feature's necessity and proper input sanitization measures. The vulnerability's presence in ASA software means that organizations with active web-based management interfaces are at risk, particularly those that have not implemented proper security controls or have not updated their systems to address the identified weakness. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access points or conduct more sophisticated attacks by first compromising the management interface and then using the compromised session to target internal network resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-12265 should prioritize immediate patching of affected ASA devices through official Cisco security advisories and software updates. Organizations must ensure that all ASA systems are updated to versions that address the input validation deficiencies in the web-based management interface. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit exposure of the management interface to trusted networks only, reducing the attack surface available to potential adversaries. The implementation of web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can provide additional protection layers against XSS attacks by detecting and blocking malicious script injection attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in web-based management interface access and script execution attempts, as these activities may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include verification of web-based management interface configurations to ensure that unnecessary features like WEBVPN are disabled when not required. The use of secure coding practices and input validation controls should be enforced across all web applications, with specific attention to user-supplied data handling within the ASA management interface. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for management access and establish strict access control policies to minimize the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's remediation aligns with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 frameworks, emphasizing the importance of timely patch management and secure configuration practices for network security devices.