CVE-2017-6702 in SocialMiner
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web framework of Cisco SocialMiner could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the web interface of an affected system. More Information: CSCve15285. Known Affected Releases: 11.5(1).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6702 resides within Cisco SocialMiner's web framework, representing a critical security flaw that exposes affected systems to unauthorized remote exploitation. This cross-site scripting vulnerability specifically targets the web interface of the SocialMiner platform, which serves as a customer engagement and social media monitoring solution. The flaw enables an unauthenticated attacker to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by users, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on this social media management tool for customer interaction and brand monitoring activities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the web framework components of Cisco SocialMiner version 11.5(1). When users interact with the web interface, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages, creating an environment where malicious scripts can be executed within the context of a victim's browser session. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, where improper validation of user input leads to execution of arbitrary code in the victim's browser.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can potentially enable attackers to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information, manipulate data within the application, or redirect users to malicious websites. For organizations using Cisco SocialMiner for customer service management, this vulnerability could compromise the integrity of customer interactions and expose sensitive data to unauthorized parties. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that no valid credentials are required to exploit this flaw, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by any remote attacker without prior access to the system.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including applying the official Cisco security patches released to address the XSS flaw. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers, while regular monitoring of web application logs for suspicious activities should be implemented. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage XSS to execute malicious scripts and potentially escalate privileges. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their web applications and implement proper input validation mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components of their IT infrastructure.