CVE-2017-6659 in Prime Collaboration Assurance
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Prime Collaboration Assurance could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attack and perform arbitrary actions on an affected device. More Information: CSCvc91800. Known Affected Releases: 11.5(0) 11.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6659 resides within the web-based management interface of Cisco Prime Collaboration Assurance version 11.5(0) and 11.6, representing a critical cross-site request forgery flaw that enables unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary actions on compromised systems. This vulnerability specifically targets the authentication mechanisms of the web interface, bypassing the need for valid credentials to perform malicious operations. The flaw exists in the way the application handles web requests and does not properly validate the origin of requests, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted requests.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper request validation mechanisms within the web interface components. Attackers can construct malicious web pages or exploit existing web-based communication channels to trick legitimate users into performing unintended actions within the context of the vulnerable application. The flaw operates at the application layer and leverages the trust relationship between the web interface and the underlying system, allowing unauthorized modifications to be executed with the privileges of the authenticated session. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues in web applications. The vulnerability demonstrates how insufficient input validation and lack of proper request origin verification can create security breaches that compromise system integrity and availability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to perform critical administrative functions without proper authorization. An attacker could potentially modify system configurations, access sensitive data, or disrupt collaboration services that depend on the Prime Collaboration Assurance platform. The remote nature of this attack vector means that exploitation can occur from anywhere on the internet, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations that expose their management interfaces to external networks. This threat is compounded by the fact that no authentication is required to initiate the attack, making it accessible to any attacker with knowledge of the target system's interface structure. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers spearphishing with a link, as attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious actions through web-based attack vectors.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including disabling unnecessary web interfaces, implementing proper access controls, and applying the vendor-provided security patches. Network segmentation and firewall rules can help limit exposure of the vulnerable interface to trusted networks only. The implementation of additional security controls such as web application firewalls and proper request validation mechanisms should be considered as part of a comprehensive defense-in-depth strategy. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other applications and systems. Cisco has released patches and updates to address this vulnerability, and organizations should prioritize applying these updates to protect against potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper web application security practices including input validation, proper session management, and implementing anti-CSRF tokens to prevent similar attacks in the future.