CVE-2017-6605 in Identity Services Engine
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to conduct a reflective cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the web-based management interface of an affected device. More Information: CSCvc85415. Known Affected Releases: 2.1(0.800).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6605 resides within the web-based management interface of Cisco Identity Services Engine version 2.1(0.800) and potentially other affected releases. This issue represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the device's user authentication mechanisms and web interface security controls. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication process of the ISE management interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system through reflective cross-site scripting techniques. The Cisco Identity Services Engine serves as a critical component in network access control, managing authentication, authorization, and accounting functions for enterprise networks, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on its services.
The technical flaw manifests as a reflective cross-site scripting vulnerability that occurs when the web interface fails to properly sanitize user input before reflecting it back to the browser. An authenticated attacker with valid credentials can craft malicious payloads that exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of the victim's browser session. The vulnerability leverages the fact that the web interface does not adequately validate or escape user-supplied data that is subsequently rendered in web pages. This reflective nature means that the malicious script is not stored on the server but is instead reflected back to the user through the web application's response, making it particularly challenging to detect and prevent through traditional security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it allows attackers to potentially hijack user sessions, steal sensitive authentication tokens, and gain unauthorized access to administrative functions within the ISE environment. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to modify network access policies, view sensitive configuration data, or even escalate privileges within the ISE management interface. The vulnerability affects the entire scope of the web-based management interface, potentially compromising the integrity of the network access control system that ISE provides. Organizations utilizing this technology face significant risks as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to undermine the core security functions that ISE is designed to protect.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6605 should prioritize immediate implementation of Cisco's security patches and updates released to address the specific reflective XSS vulnerability. Network administrators must ensure that all affected ISE devices are upgraded to patched versions that properly sanitize input and implement proper output encoding mechanisms. The implementation of web application firewalls and security monitoring solutions can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while regular security audits of the web interface should be conducted to identify additional vulnerabilities. Organizations should also enforce strict access controls and regularly review user permissions within the ISE environment to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a technique that falls under the ATT&CK framework's web application attacks category, emphasizing the need for comprehensive web security controls and regular vulnerability assessments.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications, particularly those managing sensitive network security functions. Organizations should implement comprehensive security awareness training for administrators and establish robust patch management procedures to ensure timely deployment of security updates. Regular penetration testing and security assessments of management interfaces should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. The incident underscores the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the importance of addressing vulnerabilities in network infrastructure components that serve as primary attack vectors for sophisticated adversaries.