CVE-2017-3838 in Secure Access Control System
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in Cisco Secure Access Control System (ACS) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a DOM-based cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against the user of the web interface of the affected system. More Information: CSCvc04838. Known Affected Releases: 5.8(2.5).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3838 affects Cisco Secure Access Control System version 5.8(2.5) and represents a significant security weakness in the web interface component of the system. This flaw enables an unauthenticated remote attacker to execute DOM-based cross-site scripting attacks against unsuspecting users who interact with the affected web interface. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the web application's JavaScript code, creating an avenue for malicious payload injection that can compromise user sessions and potentially escalate to full system compromise.
This vulnerability specifically manifests as a DOM-based cross-site scripting flaw, which operates differently from traditional XSS vulnerabilities by manipulating the Document Object Model rather than directly injecting malicious scripts into web pages. The attack occurs when the web application processes user-supplied input through the DOM without proper sanitization, allowing malicious code to execute in the context of the victim's browser session. The affected Cisco Secure Access Control System web interface provides administrative access to network security policies and user authentication controls, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical network security functions. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-site Scripting flaws in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it creates potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks that could compromise the entire network security infrastructure. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject malicious code that could persist across multiple user sessions. Given that the Cisco Secure Access Control System serves as a critical component for network access control and authentication management, successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized network access, privilege escalation, and potential data exfiltration. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access or network credentials to exploit it, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where such systems are typically exposed to external network traffic.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-3838 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from Cisco, as the vendor has released security updates to address this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit exposure of the affected system to untrusted networks and establish monitoring for suspicious web traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The security community has documented similar patterns in ATT&CK framework under the technique T1059.007 for script-based attacks and T1566 for credential harvesting through web-based attacks. Additional defensive measures include implementing Content Security Policy headers, deploying web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments of web interfaces. Network administrators should also consider disabling unnecessary web services and implementing strict access controls to minimize the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and sanitization in web applications, particularly in security-critical systems where the consequences of exploitation can be severe and far-reaching.