CVE-2018-0149 in Integrated Management Controller
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco Integrated Management Controller Supervisor Software and Cisco UCS Director Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to conduct a Document Object Model-based (DOM-based), stored 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 the affected software. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user of the affected interface to click a malicious link. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary script code in the context of the affected interface or allow the attacker to access sensitive browser-based information on the affected device. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvh12994.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0149 resides within the web-based management interface of Cisco's Integrated Management Controller Supervisor Software and UCS Director Software, representing a critical security weakness that enables authenticated remote attackers to execute DOM-based stored cross-site scripting attacks. This flaw manifests through insufficient validation mechanisms within the web interface's input processing capabilities, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors seeking to compromise the affected systems. The vulnerability specifically targets the document object model handling within the web interface, making it particularly dangerous as it operates at the browser level where user interactions directly influence application behavior.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated attacker who can manipulate user-supplied input through the web management interface. The flaw occurs when user-provided data is not properly sanitized or validated before being processed and stored within the application's database or session storage. When a victim user navigates to a page containing maliciously crafted input, the stored XSS payload executes within the victim's browser context, leveraging the legitimate user session to perform unauthorized actions. This type of attack falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities, and more precisely aligns with CWE-80 which deals with improper neutralization of script references in a context-sensitive manner. The attack vector requires social engineering to convince users to click malicious links, making it particularly challenging to defend against through traditional network-based security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to access sensitive browser-based information and execute arbitrary code within the context of the affected interface. This could potentially allow attackers to escalate privileges, steal session cookies, access administrative functions, or even redirect users to malicious sites. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that once the malicious input is injected and stored, it will persist and affect any user who views the affected page, creating a continuous threat vector that can compromise multiple users over time. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the management interface, potentially exposing sensitive configuration data, user credentials, and system information that should remain protected within the secure administrative environment.
Organizations utilizing affected Cisco products should implement immediate mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco to remediate the input validation flaws within the web-based management interfaces. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit the attack surface and reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in web interface usage and potential injection attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting and T1566.001 for spearphishing with a link, highlighting the need for both technical and user awareness-based defenses. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar input validation weaknesses in other web applications and systems, as this vulnerability demonstrates how insufficient data sanitization can create persistent security risks within management interfaces.