CVE-2017-6701 in Identity Services Engine
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web application interface of the Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) portal could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the web interface of an affected system. More Information: CSCvd49141. Known Affected Releases: 2.1(102.101).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6701 resides within the web application interface of Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) version 2.1(102.101) and potentially other affected releases. This represents a critical security flaw that enables unauthenticated remote attackers to execute stored cross-site scripting attacks against legitimate users interacting with the ISE web portal. The vulnerability specifically impacts the administrative web interface used for managing network access control policies and user authentication within Cisco's identity services infrastructure, making it a significant concern for enterprise network security operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding within the ISE web application's user interface components. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious script code into input fields that are subsequently stored within the application's database or session management systems. When other authenticated users subsequently access the affected web interface and view the maliciously stored content, the embedded scripts execute within their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the compromised user's privileges. This stored XSS vulnerability operates through the standard web application request-response cycle where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of the ISE administrative interface and the security of network access control operations. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to sensitive network configuration data, manipulate user authentication policies, and potentially escalate privileges within the network access control environment. The attack vector requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with network access to the affected ISE system. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the network access control infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to disrupt network operations or establish persistent access points within the enterprise network.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the latest security patches and updates provided by Cisco to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of the ISE web interface to untrusted networks. Regular monitoring of web application logs for suspicious activity and input validation should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, security awareness training for administrators should emphasize the importance of avoiding untrusted input and maintaining current security configurations. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a technique commonly used in the ATT&CK framework under the 'Web Application Attack' category, specifically targeting the 'Exploitation for Credential Access' and 'Persistence' sub-techniques that can compromise network security infrastructure.