CVE-2018-0205 in Prime Collaboration Provisioning Tool
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the User Provisioning tab in the Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning Tool could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack. The vulnerability is due to improper input validation. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by placing a malicious string in the Prime Collaboration Provisioning database. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to access Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning by injecting crafted data into the database. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCvd86609.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-0205 resides within the User Provisioning tab of Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning Tool, representing a critical security weakness that enables unauthenticated remote attackers to execute cross-site scripting attacks. This flaw specifically manifests through inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before processing. The vulnerability stems from the application's inability to effectively validate and filter input parameters, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to inject harmful scripts into the system. The affected component processes user-provided data through the database interface, where the insufficient validation permits malicious payloads to be stored and subsequently executed within the context of the victim's browser session.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input strings and injects them into the Prime Collaboration Provisioning database through the User Provisioning tab. This injection mechanism operates by leveraging the lack of proper sanitization controls that should normally validate and escape user inputs before they are processed or stored. The malicious strings can contain javascript code or other scripting elements that execute when the compromised data is rendered in the web interface. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to bypass authentication requirements entirely, as the flaw exists at the input validation layer rather than requiring legitimate credentials. This creates a scenario where any remote user can potentially compromise the system without needing to authenticate, making the attack surface significantly broader than typical authentication-based exploits.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as successful exploitation could provide attackers with unauthorized access to the Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning tool. This access could enable malicious actors to manipulate user accounts, view sensitive configuration data, or potentially escalate privileges within the system. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates entirely through database injection rather than direct web interface manipulation, making it harder to detect through traditional network monitoring approaches. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the provisioning system, potentially allowing attackers to modify user permissions, access restricted data, or even gain persistent access to the collaboration infrastructure. Organizations relying on Cisco Prime Collaboration Provisioning for managing their communication systems face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential data breaches through this flaw.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-0205 should prioritize immediate implementation of input validation controls and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious data injection. Organizations must ensure that all user inputs are properly sanitized and validated before being processed or stored in the database, implementing proper escape sequences for all dynamic content rendered in web interfaces. The recommended approach includes deploying web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious input patterns, applying the latest security patches provided by Cisco, and implementing strict access controls for database operations. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their collaboration infrastructure to identify similar validation flaws, as this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059.007 for script execution and T1566 for social engineering techniques that leverage web-based attacks, emphasizing the need for comprehensive defensive measures including user education, network monitoring, and regular security audits to prevent exploitation of such input validation weaknesses.