CVE-2017-6716 in FirePOWER Management Center
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web framework code of Cisco Firepower Management Center could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to conduct a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the web interface of an affected system. Affected Products: Cisco Firepower Management Center Software Releases prior to 6.0.0.0. More Information: CSCuy88785. Known Affected Releases: 5.4.1.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6716 resides within the web framework implementation of Cisco Firepower Management Center, representing a critical security flaw that enables authenticated remote attackers to execute stored cross-site scripting attacks against system users. This weakness specifically targets the web interface component of the management center, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and potentially escalate to full system compromise. The vulnerability's classification as a stored XSS flaw means that malicious input is first stored on the server and then executed when other users access the affected web interface, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where administrators and operators regularly interact with the management console.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess valid authentication credentials for the Cisco Firepower Management Center, which significantly reduces the attack surface compared to fully unauthenticated exploits but still presents a substantial risk given the privileged nature of the affected system. The flaw manifests when user-supplied input containing malicious script code is processed and stored within the system's database or configuration components, subsequently being served back to authenticated users without proper sanitization or encoding. This stored data persistence characteristic aligns with CWE-079, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where input is not properly validated or sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The attack chain typically involves an authenticated user submitting malicious content through the web interface, which gets stored in the system's backend, and then later retrieved by another user who unknowingly executes the malicious script within their browser context.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6716 extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including credential harvesting, privilege escalation, and system reconnaissance. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to inject malicious JavaScript code that captures user credentials, redirects users to phishing sites, or establishes persistent backdoors within the management environment. The severity of this flaw is particularly concerning given that Cisco Firepower Management Center serves as the central control point for network security policies and threat management across enterprise environments, making successful exploitation potentially devastating to overall network security posture. The vulnerability's presence in releases prior to version 6.0.0.0 indicates a prolonged window of exposure, as organizations with older versions would remain vulnerable until they implemented the necessary security updates.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate software updates and enhanced input validation practices. Cisco has addressed this issue through software releases that include proper sanitization of user input and enhanced web framework security measures. Organizations should prioritize upgrading their Cisco Firepower Management Center installations to version 6.0.0.0 or later to eliminate exposure to this specific vulnerability. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while monitoring for unusual administrative activities can aid in early detection of compromise. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security assessments of the web application framework to identify and address similar vulnerabilities that may exist within the broader application ecosystem. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing robust input validation mechanisms as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework's application security categories, particularly focusing on web application vulnerabilities that can be exploited through authenticated sessions to achieve persistent access within enterprise security infrastructure.