CVE-2017-6761 in Finesse
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Finesse 10.6(1) and 11.5(1) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the web-based management interface of an affected device. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied input by the web-based management interface of an affected device. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user of the interface to click a crafted link. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary script code in the context of the interface or allow the attacker to access sensitive browser-based information. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvd96744.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6761 affects Cisco Finesse versions 10.6(1) and 11.5(1), representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the web-based management interface. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the web interface, creating an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to execute malicious code. The flaw specifically manifests when the interface fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input, enabling attackers to inject malicious scripts that can be executed in the context of the victim's browser session.
The exploitation vector requires social engineering to convince a legitimate user to click on a maliciously crafted link that contains the XSS payload. This attack model aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which describes the use of spearphishing with links to deliver malicious content. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution, as it can potentially enable attackers to access sensitive browser-based information and perform actions within the scope of the authenticated user's session. This represents a significant security risk for organizations relying on Cisco Finesse for customer relationship management and call center operations.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability maps to CWE-79, which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications. The insufficient input validation creates a persistent vulnerability that can be leveraged to hijack user sessions, steal authentication tokens, or redirect users to malicious sites. The affected Cisco Finesse versions demonstrate a common pattern in web application security where input sanitization mechanisms fail to properly filter or escape user-provided data before rendering it in web pages. This flaw particularly impacts the management interface's ability to process user input securely, creating an attack surface that can be exploited without authentication requirements.
Organizations utilizing affected Cisco Finesse versions should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor's security patches and updates. Network segmentation and monitoring of web traffic can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a remote, unauthenticated attack means that organizations should also review their network access controls and consider implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious requests. Additionally, user education and awareness programs should be strengthened to reduce the risk of successful social engineering attacks that could exploit this vulnerability, as the attack requires user interaction through clicked links that may appear legitimate to victims.