CVE-2017-6749 in Web Security Appliance
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA) could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to conduct a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the web-based management interface of an affected device. Affected Products: virtual and hardware versions of Cisco Web Security Appliance (WSA). More Information: CSCvd88865. Known Affected Releases: 10.1.0-204.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6749 represents a critical security flaw within Cisco Web Security Appliance WSA's web-based management interface that enables authenticated remote attackers to execute stored cross-site scripting attacks. This vulnerability specifically impacts both virtual and hardware deployments of the WSA platform, affecting version 10.1.0-204 and potentially other releases within the same affected product line. The flaw resides in the application's handling of user-supplied input within the management interface, creating a persistent XSS vector that can compromise user sessions and potentially lead to unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the WSA's web interface components. When authenticated users interact with the management console, maliciously crafted input data can be stored within the application's database or session management systems. This stored data is then subsequently rendered back to users without proper sanitization, creating the conditions for XSS exploitation. The vulnerability's classification as a stored XSS attack means that the malicious payload persists in the application's backend systems and can affect multiple users who subsequently access the affected interface components. This characteristic distinguishes it from reflected XSS attacks and makes it particularly dangerous as the malicious code executes automatically whenever affected users access the vulnerable interface elements.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session hijacking or data theft. An authenticated attacker with access to the WSA management interface could potentially escalate privileges, modify security policies, redirect traffic, or gain unauthorized access to protected network resources. The attack vector requires only authentication to the management interface, which may be obtained through legitimate administrative access or through credential compromise. This vulnerability undermines the integrity of the WSA's administrative controls and could lead to complete compromise of the web security appliance's protective functions. The potential for privilege escalation exists because the management interface typically provides access to critical security configuration parameters and network traffic inspection capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6749 should prioritize immediate implementation of Cisco's security patches and updates to address the specific XSS vulnerability within the WSA management interface. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit administrative access to the WSA management interface, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. Security monitoring should include detection of anomalous input patterns and unusual administrative activities within the WSA console. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and it maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script execution through web interfaces. Regular security assessments of web application components and input validation mechanisms should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other parts of the security infrastructure. Network administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls and additional security controls to monitor and filter potentially malicious input data within the WSA management environment.