CVE-2017-12343 in Data Center Network Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple vulnerabilities in Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM) Software could allow a remote attacker to inject arbitrary values into DCNM configuration parameters, redirect a user to a malicious website, inject malicious content into a DCNM client interface, or conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the affected software. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvf40477, CSCvf63150, CSCvf68218, CSCvf68235, CSCvf68247.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12343 affects Cisco Data Center Network Manager software, a critical component in enterprise data center network management and orchestration. This software serves as a centralized platform for managing complex network infrastructures, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise network operations. The affected DCNM software versions contain multiple cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that stem from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the web interface components. These flaws exist in the authentication and configuration handling modules that process user-supplied data, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit the system through web-based attacks.
The technical implementation of these vulnerabilities manifests through inadequate sanitization of user inputs in various DCNM web interfaces and API endpoints. Attackers can leverage these weaknesses by crafting malicious payloads that exploit the lack of proper input validation in configuration parameter handling. The vulnerabilities specifically affect how the software processes user-supplied data in web forms, URL parameters, and HTTP headers, allowing for the injection of malicious scripts that execute in the context of authenticated users' browsers. This occurs because the software fails to properly encode or escape special characters in user-provided content before rendering it in web pages, creating conditions where malicious JavaScript code can be executed when users interact with affected interfaces. These issues align with CWE-79 Cross-Site Scripting and CWE-20 Improper Input Validation categories from the Common Weakness Enumeration framework.
The operational impact of these vulnerabilities extends beyond simple data theft or service disruption, as they enable attackers to perform session hijacking and privilege escalation attacks against authenticated users. An attacker who successfully exploits these vulnerabilities can redirect users to malicious websites, inject arbitrary content into the DCNM client interface, or execute malicious scripts that compromise user sessions and potentially gain elevated privileges within the network management system. The attack surface includes both unauthenticated and authenticated scenarios, with the most severe impact occurring when authenticated users interact with compromised web interfaces. This vulnerability essentially allows an attacker to perform man-in-the-middle attacks against legitimate users of the DCNM software, potentially leading to complete network management system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive network infrastructure configurations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco, implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious requests, and conducting thorough network segmentation to limit access to DCNM interfaces. Network administrators should also enforce strict access controls and monitor for suspicious activities in web application logs, particularly focusing on unusual parameter values and user behavior patterns. The implementation of content security policies and proper input validation mechanisms should be prioritized to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other network management systems. These remediation strategies align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 for Phishing, as the vulnerabilities enable attackers to establish persistent access through client-side exploitation methods that bypass traditional network security controls.