CVE-2017-6789 in Unified Intelligence Center
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Cisco Unified Intelligence Center web interface could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to impact the integrity of the system by executing a Document Object Model (DOM)-based, environment or client-side cross-site scripting (XSS) attack. The vulnerability occurs because user-supplied data in the DOM input is not validated. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted URLs that contain malicious DOM statements to the affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to affect the integrity of the system by manipulating the database. Known Affected Releases 11.0(1)ES10. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvf18325.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6789 resides within the Cisco Unified Intelligence Center web interface, representing a critical security flaw that undermines system integrity through client-side cross-site scripting attacks. This weakness specifically manifests as a DOM-based XSS vulnerability that exploits the absence of proper input validation for user-supplied data within the Document Object Model, creating an attack surface where unauthenticated remote adversaries can manipulate system behavior without requiring legitimate credentials. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of DOM inputs, allowing malicious payloads to be executed within the context of the victim's browser session, thereby compromising the integrity of the affected system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the delivery of crafted URLs containing malicious DOM statements that target the Cisco Unified Intelligence Center interface. When a user interacts with these specially crafted links, the malicious code executes within the browser context, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate database operations and compromise data integrity. This DOM-based attack vector operates entirely on the client-side, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass traditional server-side security controls and directly impact the user's browser environment. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft to include potential system manipulation, as attackers can exploit the compromised session to alter database records and compromise the overall integrity of the unified intelligence center's data management functions.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are severe for organizations relying on Cisco Unified Intelligence Center for business intelligence and reporting operations. Attackers leveraging this flaw can potentially alter critical business data, manipulate reporting metrics, and compromise the trustworthiness of intelligence gathered from the system. The attack requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone who gains access to the malicious URLs, potentially through phishing campaigns or compromised websites. This vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the risk of cross-site scripting that can lead to data integrity compromise and unauthorized system manipulation.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, including immediate patching of affected systems to version 11.0(1)ES10 or later releases that contain the necessary security fixes. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional protection by filtering malicious traffic before it reaches the vulnerable interface. Input validation should be strengthened at all user-facing interfaces, with proper sanitization of DOM inputs to prevent malicious code injection. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and script injection, and CWE-79 for cross-site scripting, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures including regular security assessments, user awareness training, and implementation of content security policies to prevent exploitation of such client-side vulnerabilities.
The remediation approach should include comprehensive vulnerability scanning to identify all instances of the affected software, followed by systematic patch deployment across all affected systems. Network administrators should monitor for suspicious traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while security teams should implement proper access controls and session management to minimize potential impact if exploitation occurs. Regular security audits should verify that input validation mechanisms are properly configured and functioning, ensuring that user-supplied data cannot be executed as code within the application's DOM environment. Organizations should also consider implementing automated security monitoring solutions that can detect and alert on potential XSS attack patterns, providing early warning capabilities to prevent successful exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities.