CVE-2017-3866 in Prime Service Catalog
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web framework code of Cisco Prime Service Catalog could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against the user of the web interface of the affected system. More Information: CSCvc79842 CSCvc79846 CSCvc79855 CSCvc79873 CSCvc79882 CSCvc79891. Known Affected Releases: 11.1.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-3866 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Cisco Prime Service Catalog version 11.1.2, exposing the web framework to unauthenticated remote attack vectors. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the application's web interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by legitimate users. The affected system operates as a service catalog management platform that facilitates business process automation and service provisioning, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit user sessions and access sensitive organizational data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of user input fields within the web application's interface, where the system fails to properly sanitize or encode user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses. This flaw allows an attacker to craft malicious payloads that, when executed in a victim's browser, can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing unauthorized commands within the context of the victim's session. The vulnerability specifically affects the web framework components that handle user interactions and display dynamic content, making it particularly dangerous given the privileged nature of service catalog operations. According to CWE-79, this vulnerability maps directly to Cross-Site Scripting, a well-documented weakness in web applications where improper input validation leads to malicious script execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-3866 extends beyond simple script injection, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access to the service catalog environment and potentially escalate privileges within the organization's service management infrastructure. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to conduct session hijacking attacks, where stolen authentication tokens allow unauthorized access to service catalog functionalities, including the ability to provision services, modify catalog entries, or access restricted administrative features. The remote nature of this vulnerability eliminates the need for physical access or insider knowledge, making it particularly concerning for organizations that rely heavily on web-based service catalogs for their operational workflows. This vulnerability can also serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, as compromised service catalog sessions may provide access to underlying systems or databases that support the service catalog infrastructure.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including the application of Cisco's official security patches and updates, which address the input validation deficiencies in the web framework components. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring and filtering malicious traffic patterns associated with XSS attacks. The implementation of content security policies and proper output encoding mechanisms within the application code can further reduce the attack surface. According to ATT&CK framework category T1059.001, this vulnerability aligns with command and scripting interpreter techniques where attackers use XSS to execute malicious scripts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses in other web applications, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of comprehensive security testing across all application components. Additionally, user education regarding suspicious web content and session management best practices can help reduce the overall risk exposure associated with such vulnerabilities.