CVE-2017-6699 in Prime Infrastructure
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Prime Infrastructure (PI) and Evolved Programmable Network Manager (EPNM) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the web-based management interface of an affected device. More Information: CSCvc24616 CSCvc35363 CSCvc49574. Known Affected Releases: 3.1(1) 2.0(4.0.45B).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6699 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the web-based management interfaces of Cisco Prime Infrastructure and Evolved Programmable Network Manager products. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the affected web applications, creating an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to inject malicious script code into web pages viewed by authenticated or unauthenticated users. The flaw specifically manifests in the way the applications handle user-supplied input parameters within HTTP requests, particularly in parameters related to search functionality and user interface elements that are not properly sanitized before being rendered back to users.
The technical implementation of this reflected XSS vulnerability occurs when the web application processes user input without adequate sanitization or encoding, causing the malicious script code to be executed in the context of the victim's browser session. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when clicked by an unsuspecting user, will execute the injected code within the user's browser. This reflected nature means the malicious script is not stored on the server but rather reflected back to the user through the application's response, making it particularly dangerous as it can be delivered via email phishing campaigns, malicious websites, or social engineering attacks. The vulnerability affects Cisco Prime Infrastructure version 3.1(1) and 2.0(4.0.45B) releases, as well as the Evolved Programmable Network Manager, highlighting the widespread impact across Cisco's network management platforms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the affected network management environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive network configuration data, manipulate network settings, or establish persistent access to the compromised management interface. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that no prior credentials are required to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous for network administrators who may inadvertently click on malicious links or be targeted through social engineering campaigns. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which describes Cross-site Scripting flaws in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting through web interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6699 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems with Cisco's security updates, as the vendor released specific fixes addressing the input validation issues. Network administrators should implement additional defensive measures including web application firewalls, input validation rules, and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious script injection. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications within the network infrastructure. Organizations should also establish robust incident response procedures to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts, while implementing user awareness training to reduce the risk of successful social engineering attacks that could leverage this vulnerability. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web applications, aligning with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks for protecting web-based management interfaces from common injection attacks.