CVE-2018-0097 in Prime Infrastructure
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web interface of Cisco Prime Infrastructure could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to redirect a user to a malicious web page, aka an Open Redirect. The vulnerability is due to improper input validation of the parameters in the HTTP request. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by crafting an HTTP request that could cause the web application to redirect the request to a specific malicious URL. This vulnerability is known as an open redirect attack and is used in phishing attacks to get users to visit malicious sites without their knowledge. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCve37646.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0097 resides within the web interface of Cisco Prime Infrastructure, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of user navigation and system trust mechanisms. This weakness manifests as an open redirect vulnerability that enables malicious actors to manipulate the application's redirect functionality, potentially compromising user security and system integrity. The vulnerability specifically targets the HTTP request parameter validation process, where insufficient input sanitization allows attackers to inject malicious redirect URLs that can be executed without user consent or knowledge.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user-supplied parameters within the web application's HTTP request handling mechanism. When Cisco Prime Infrastructure processes incoming HTTP requests, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the redirect parameters, creating a pathway for attackers to craft specially formatted requests that manipulate the application's redirect behavior. This flaw operates at the application layer and specifically affects the web interface components that handle user navigation and session management functions. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-601 as an Open Redirect vulnerability, which represents a well-documented weakness where applications fail to validate redirect destinations, allowing attackers to redirect users to malicious sites. The flaw essentially permits attackers to construct HTTP requests that contain malicious URLs, which the application then processes and executes as legitimate redirects, thereby bypassing normal security controls and user verification mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple navigation manipulation, as it provides attackers with a sophisticated vector for executing phishing campaigns and social engineering attacks. An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability to redirect users to malicious websites that appear to be legitimate Cisco Prime Infrastructure pages, potentially capturing credentials, sensitive data, or installing malware on compromised systems. The open redirect attack mechanism leverages user trust in the legitimate application interface to deceive victims into visiting malicious sites without realizing they are being redirected. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where Cisco Prime Infrastructure is deployed, as it can be used to target network administrators and other users who regularly access the system, potentially leading to privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or broader network compromise. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication credentials and can be executed from any network location, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals and nation-state actors alike.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate technical flaw and implement broader security controls to prevent exploitation. Organizations should prioritize applying the relevant Cisco security patches and updates that address the input validation weakness in the web interface components. Network administrators should also implement additional security measures such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious redirect patterns, as well as monitoring systems that can identify anomalous redirect behavior. The implementation of proper input validation controls, including parameter sanitization and destination URL verification, should be enforced throughout the application's request handling process to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify potential redirect vulnerabilities in web applications, while implementing user education programs to help personnel recognize phishing attempts that may exploit such weaknesses. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1566 technique for Phishing, where attackers leverage open redirect vulnerabilities to craft convincing phishing campaigns that exploit user trust in legitimate applications. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers and other web security controls that can prevent unauthorized redirects and provide additional layers of protection against this class of attack.