CVE-2018-15435 in SocialMiner
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the web-based management interface of Cisco SocialMiner could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) attack against a user of the web-based management interface. 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/30/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-15435 represents a critical security flaw in Cisco SocialMiner's web-based management interface, classified under CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. This stored cross-site scripting vulnerability arises from inadequate validation mechanisms within the affected device's web interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject harmful scripts into the system. The flaw specifically impacts the authentication model of the web-based management interface, as it allows unauthenticated remote attackers to exploit the vulnerability without requiring valid credentials or prior access to the system. The vulnerability's nature as a stored XSS attack means that malicious input is permanently stored on the server and subsequently executed when legitimate users access the affected interface, making it particularly dangerous as the attack vector persists over time and can affect multiple users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through social engineering tactics where attackers craft malicious links designed to target unsuspecting users of the web-based management interface. When a victim clicks on these crafted links, the malicious script code executes within the context of the user's browser session, potentially allowing the attacker to perform actions as if they were the authenticated user. This execution context provides attackers with the capability to access sensitive browser-based information, manipulate the user interface, and potentially escalate their privileges within the system. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions, and access confidential data that the legitimate user has access to within the SocialMiner environment. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious payload remains persistent and can affect multiple users over time, making it a particularly insidious threat vector.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-15435 extends significantly beyond the immediate technical implications, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the entire SocialMiner management environment. Organizations utilizing Cisco SocialMiner may experience unauthorized access to sensitive customer data, disruption of service operations, and potential data exfiltration through the execution of malicious scripts. The vulnerability's ability to allow attackers to execute arbitrary code within the browser context of legitimate users creates a direct pathway for privilege escalation and lateral movement within the network. According to ATT&CK framework techniques, this vulnerability maps to T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 Phishing, as it enables attackers to execute code through compromised user sessions and leverages social engineering to deliver malicious payloads. The persistent nature of stored XSS attacks means that once exploited, the vulnerability can continue to affect users until properly patched, creating ongoing security exposure for organizations that fail to address the issue promptly.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-15435 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Cisco SocialMiner devices through official firmware updates provided by Cisco, as outlined in their security advisory. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the SocialMiner management interface, reducing the potential attack surface and preventing unauthorized access to critical management functions. Input validation and output encoding mechanisms should be strengthened across all web interfaces to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future, following security best practices recommended by NIST and ISO 27001 standards. Network monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while security awareness training should be conducted to educate users about recognizing and avoiding phishing attempts that could deliver malicious XSS payloads. Additionally, organizations should implement web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against cross-site scripting attacks, ensuring that all user-supplied input is properly sanitized before being processed or displayed within the web interface.